In this article, we report on the preparation and characterization of novel poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)carbon fiber (CF) composites. We achieved the reinforcement of PVC matrices with different plasticizer contents using unidirectional continuous CFs by applying a warm press and a cylinder press for the preparation of the PVCCF composites. We achieved considerable reinforcement of PVC even at a relatively low CF content; for example, the maximum stress (sigma(max)) of the PVCCF composite at a 3% CF content was found to be 1.52 times higher than that of the PVC matrix. There were great differences among the Young's modulus values of the pure PVC and PVCCF composites matrices. The absolute Young's modulus values were in the range 11001300 MPa at a 3% CF content; these values were almost independent of the plasticizer content. In addition, we found a linear relationship between sigma(max) and the CF content and also recognized a linear variation of the Young's modulus with the CF content. The adhesion of CF to the PVC matrix was strong in each case, as concluded from the strainstress curves and the light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy investigations. The mechanical properties of the PVCCF composites with randomly oriented short (10 mm) fibers were also investigated. At low deformations, the stiffness of the composites improved with increasing CF content. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was used to determine the glass-transition temperature (T-g) of the PVCCF composites. The high increase in the Young's modulus entailed only a mild T-g increase. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012