The effect of two catalysts, Pt/TiO2 and aluminum chloride, on the degradation of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) in solution was investigated at various temperatures. The molecular weight distribution of the polymer was obtained by analyzing the samples by gel permeation chromatography. Experimental data indicated that the catalysts enhanced the degradation rate of PVC compared to the thermal degradation of PVC. Continuous distribution kinetic models were used to evaluate the degradation rate coefficients. The activation energy, calculated from the temperature dependence of rate coefficients, was 26.5, 31.5, and 43.7 kcal/mol for the thermal degradation of PVC in solution, in the presence of Pt/TiO2 and in the presence of AlCl3 respectively. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.