Our customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, from Monday to Sunday.
| Catalog Number | CI-HC-0204 |
| Product Name | Polyvinyl Alcohol |
| CAS | 9002-89-5 |
| Structure |  |
| Synonyms | Ethenol, homopolymer |
| Description | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic, water-soluble polymer made from the monomer vinyl alcohol. It is produced by the polymerization of vinyl acetate, which is a widely used starting material for various products. Once the vinyl acetate is polymerized, it is hydrolyzed to yield vinyl alcohol units, which are linked together by hydrogen bonds. |
| IUPAC Name | Ethenol |
| Canonical SMILES | C=CO |
| InChI | IMROMDMJAWUWLK-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| InChI Key | InChI=1S/C2H4O/c1-2-3/h2-3H,1H2 |
| Density | 1.08 g/mL |
| Appearance | translucent, colorless or pale-yellow, odorless, and tasteless solid |
| Application | 1. Adhesives: Polyvinyl alcohol is an important component of adhesives due to its water-soluble nature, flexibility, and film-forming properties. 2. Textile industry: It is used as a sizing agent to add stiffness and smoothness to fabrics during their manufacture. 3. Paper industry: Polyvinyl alcohol is used as a paper coating agent to improve the paper's strength and water resistance. 4. Personal care products: It is used in the formulation of various personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and lotions, due to its ability to impart emulsifying, thickening, and moisturizing properties. 5. Food industry: It is used as a thickener, stabilizer, and binder in the food industry to enhance the texture and shelf life of various products, such as sauces, salad dressings, and ice creams. 6. Medical industry: Polyvinyl alcohol is used as a component of various medical devices, such as contact lenses and surgical sponges, due to its biocompatibility and low toxicity. |
| Features And Benefits | 1. Provides strong film-forming ability 2. Enhances skin hydration 3. Improves skin texture and firmness 4. Increases product viscosity and stability 5. Has low irritation potential for sensitive skin. |
| pH | 3.5-7.0 (40g/l, H2O, 20 °C) |
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a versatile polymer recognized for its diverse functional properties, including water solubility, adherence, chemical stability, and film-forming abilities. Its applications are extensive, serving as a vital component in packaging for chemicals, foodstuffs, soaps, agricultural products, and dyes, and functioning effectively as a release film in molding unsaturated polyesters. The degree of polymerization and saponification largely determines PVA's characteristics. In personal care products, PVA is utilized in both water-soluble and hardly water-soluble forms, contributing to the formulation of cosmetic packs such as face masks and acting as a thickening agent in soaps and creams. In the pharmaceutical industry, PVA serves as an excipient in capsules and ointments, and it plays a crucial role in modern delivery systems by stabilizing structures such as liposome-like formations and safeguarding active ingredients from degradation.
What are the primary characteristics of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)?
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a versatile polymer known for its water solubility, adherence, chemical stability, and film-forming properties. Its characteristics are predominantly determined by the degree of polymerization and saponification (hydrolysis).
In which industries is Polyvinyl Alcohol commonly used?
PVA is utilized across diverse fields due to its versatile properties. Common applications include packaging chemicals, foodstuffs, soaps, agricultural chemicals, and dyes. PVA is also used as a release film in molding unsaturated polyesters. Moreover, it plays a significant role in personal care products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
What is the role of Polyvinyl Alcohol in personal care and cosmetic products?
In personal care, PVA is used in cosmetic products such as face masks, where it acts as a chief raw material. It is also added to soaps and creams as a thickening agent. Its formulation can be tailored to be water-soluble or hardly water-soluble depending on the product requirements.
How is Polyvinyl Alcohol utilized in the pharmaceutical industry?
In pharmaceuticals, Polyvinyl Alcohol serves as an excipient, aiding in the formulation of capsules and ointments. It is notably used in modern delivery systems where it helps stabilize liposome-like structures and protects active ingredients from degradation.
What are the differences between water-soluble and hardly water-soluble Polyvinyl Alcohol?
The water solubility of Polyvinyl Alcohol depends on the degree of saponification and polymerization. Water-soluble PVA is typically used in products requiring dissolution in water, whereas hardly water-soluble PVA is employed in applications where reduced solubility is advantageous, providing structural stability when exposed to moisture.
If you have any questions, please contact us. You will get a satisfactory answer.
