Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a typical commodity thermoplastic polymer, is enabled for self-healing using nucleophilic thiol-click chemistry. A healing agent consisting of bifunctional monomer glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), polythiol pentaerythritol tetrakis (3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP) and basic catalyst 2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl) phenol (DMP-30) shows good wetting of the PVC matrix, fast reaction kinetics, a high resistance to thermal processing, and tolerance to oxygen. The PVC composite containing microencapsulated healant was fabricated by hot compression molding and exhibited autonomic self-healability characterized by the recovery of mechanical strength within 2-3 h at room temperature in air. Both the C=C and epoxide group of GMA participate in the reaction with polythiol, but the thiol-ene "click" reaction proceeds faster than the thiol-epoxy reaction. The outcomes of the present study contribute to developing new healing agents and expand the family of self-healing thermoplastics. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.