['< sod >\'\'\'plasticizers\'\'\'( uk :\'\'\'plasticisers\'\'\') or\'\'\'dispersants\'\'\'are additives that increase the [ [ plasticity ( physics ) | plasticity ] ] or [ [ viscosity ] ] of a material. the dominant applications are for plastics, especially [ [ polyvinyl chloride ] ] ( pvc ). the properties of other materials are also improved considerably when blended with plasticizers including concrete, clays, and related products. according to 2014 research data, the total global market for plasticizers was 8. 4 · million metric tonnes. < ref name = " ceh " > { { cite journal | author = malveda, michael martin p | title = chemical economics handbook report on plasticizers | date = july 2015 | url = https : / / www. ihs. com / products / plasticizers - chemical - economics - handbook.... html } } < / ref > < eod > < sod >\'\'\'the plasticizers\'\'\'( uk :\'\'\'plasticisers\'\'\') or\'\'\'dispersants\'\'\'are additives that increase the [ [ plasticity ( physics ) | plasticity ] ] or [ [ viscosity ] ] of a material. over the last 60 years more than 30, 000 different substances have been evaluated for their plasticizing properties. of these, only a small number – approximately 50 - are today in commercial use. the dominant applications are for plastics, especially [ [ polyvinyl chloride ] ] ( pvc ). the properties of other materials are also improved significantly when blended with plasticizers including concrete, clays, and related products. according to 2014 data, the total global claimed market power for plasticizers was 8. 4 million metric tonnes < ref name = " engineering ceh " > { { cite journal | author = malveda, michael p | title = chemical economics handbook report on plasticizers | date = july 2015 | url = https : / / www. ihs. com / products / plasticizers - chemical - economics - handbook. html } } < / ref > including 1. 3 million metric tonnes in europe. < eod >']