POLYVINYL ALCOHOL
POLYVINYL ALCOHOL
Application & Uses
PVA is used in sizing agents that give greater strength to textile yarns and make paper more resistant to oils and greases. It is also employed as a component of adhesives and emulsifiers, as a water-soluble protective film, and as a starting material for the preparation of other resins.
- Emulgator and dispersing agent
- Papermaking: PVA is used as a sizing and coating agent to make paper products stiffer.
- Textiles: PVA is used as a sizing and coating agent to make textiles stiffer.
- Medical applications: PVA is used in transdermal patches, jellies, tablets, and ophthalmic solutions. It's also used as scaffolding for cell cultures, embolic materials, contact lenses, and wound dressings.
- Water treatment: PVA is used in water treatment chemicals.
- Laundry detergents: PVA is used in laundry detergents.
- Agricultural chemicals: PVA is used in agricultural chemicals.
- Disinfectants: PVA is used in disinfectants.
- Industrial cleaning chemicals: PVA is used in industrial cleaning chemicals.
- Slime: PVA is used to make slime.
Dosage & Directions for Use
Is it safe for humans? Sub-chronic toxicity and genotoxicity studies confirm that PVA is safe for humans when exposed via numerous exposure pathways in typical daily exposure (1,2). However, the ingredients inside the PVA encasement are often not as safe.
Technical Specifications & Properties
Recommended Industrial & Shipboard Areas
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
- Water-soluble: PVA is a water-soluble polymer that is compatible with human tissues.
- Biodegradable: PVA is biodegradable and breaks down into water and carbon dioxide.
- Nontoxic: PVA is nontoxic and has no toxic effects.
- Biocompatible: PVA is biocompatible and has a structure that can absorb protein molecules.
- High tensile strength: PVA has high tensile strength and flexibility.
- Excellent film forming: PVA has excellent film forming, emulsifying, and adhesive properties.
- High oxygen and aroma barrier properties: PVA has high oxygen and aroma barrier properties.
- Chemical resistance: PVA is chemically resistant.
- Stable to temperature variation: PVA is stable to temperature variation.
- Easy to clean: PVA is easy to clean.
- Health safety: PVA is health safe, especially in educational environments.
Product Description & Chemical Profile
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH, PVA, or PVAl) is a synthetic polymer which is both colourless, odourless and water-soluble. It was initially discovered in the early 1920's and since has been used in numerous applications from the lamination of safety glass to the packaging of laundry detergents.
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