Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH, PVA, or PVAl) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer. It has the idealized formula [CH2CH(OH)]n. It is used in papermaking, textile warp sizing, as a thickener and emulsion stabilizer in polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) adhesive formulations, in a variety of coatings, and 3D printing. It is colourless (white) and odorless. It is commonly supplied as beads or as solutions in water. Without an externally added crosslinking agent, PVA solution can be gelled through repeated freezing-thawing, yielding highly strong, ultrapure, biocompatible hydrogels which have been used for a variety of applications such as vascular stents, cartilages, contact lenses, etc.Although polyvinyl alcohol is often referred to by the acronym PVA, more generally PVA refers to polyvinyl acetate, which is commonly used as a wood adhesive and sealer.

Whether we're doing laundry or running a dishwasher, most of us are familiar with detergent products that come in a pod. In this post, we'll look at the material used to make these pods, polyvinyl alcohol.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic polymer noted for its water solubility. It’s derived from the chemical breakdown of polyvinyl acetate through water, or a process called hydrolysis. Due to being water-soluble, it’s considered an environment-friendly compound, useful across various industries. Polyvinyl alcohol is present in most consumer goods today. It’s a valuable compound used by different industries to enhance their products’ quality, function, and efficacy. These significant improvements revolutionise production and consumption.  That said, here are six industrial applications of polyvinyl alcohol.  

PVA is sometimes confused with polyvinyl acetate (aka PVA or PVAc – a wood glue), an easy enough mistake to make given they sometimes go by the same acronym. PVA is also sometimes thought to be related to polyvinyl chloride (aka PVC – the poison plastic). We wanted to make it clear that even though they all contain the word “polyvinyl” and are all types of polymers, they are all indeed very different substances.

Polyvinyl alcohol is a finishing agent used in household cleaning products. In food, it can be a glazing agent or thickener. It is also used as a lubricant to relieve dry or irritated eyes.[2] The ingredient can be found in makeup, face masks, moisturizer, and other personal care products; it can also be a barrier against CO2 in certain kinds of plastic bottles.[3,4] In laundry detergent it helps prevent dirt from getting back into fabrics during washing.[5] We use the ingredient in our dishwasher detergent powder because it dissolves in water, which facilitates the production of individual packets. It is not an active cleaning ingredient.

PVA is unique among polymers (chemical compounds made up of large, multiple-unit molecules) in that it is not built up in polymerization reactions from single-unit precursor molecules known as monomers. Instead, PVA is made by dissolving another polymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), in an alcohol such as methanol and treating it with an alkaline catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. The resulting hydrolysis, or “alcoholysis,” reaction removes the acetate groups from the PVAc molecules without disrupting their long-chain structure.

PVA is unique among polymers (chemical compounds made up of large, multiple-unit molecules) in that it is not built up in polymerization reactions from single-unit precursor molecules known as monomers. Instead, PVA is made by dissolving another polymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), in an alcohol such as methanol and treating it with an alkaline catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. The resulting hydrolysis, or “alcoholysis,” reaction removes the acetate groups from the PVAc molecules without disrupting their long-chain structure.

Because PVA has unique strong adhesion, film flexibility, smoothness, oil resistance, solvent resistance, protective colloid, gas barrier, abrasion resistance and water resistance after special treatment, in addition to being used as a fiber raw material, It is also widely used in the production of coatings, adhesives, paper processing agents, emulsifiers, dispersants, films and other products, which are used in textiles, food, medicine, construction, wood processing, paper, printing, agriculture, polymer chemical industry and other industries.

PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) is a synthetic plastic polymer found in many of our everyday products. PVA is often found in household items like dishwasher and laundry pods and sheets as a thin single-use plastic wrapping or woven into laundry sheets themselves. In the U.S. alone, research shows over 20 billion PVA wrapped dishwasher and laundry pods are used every year. While the plastic wrapping around these pods might seem innocuous, when it comes to PVA, there is more than meets the eye. A recent study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health titled: Degradation of Polyvinyl Alcohol in US Wastewater Treatment Plants and Subsequent Nationwide Emission Estimate, shows that while PVA does dissolve, it doesn’t always biodegrade. We’re breaking down the naked truth about laundry and dishwasher pods, and unpacking the real implications of PVA.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a fascinating and versatile synthetic polymer that has captured the attention of industries and researchers alike. With its unique properties and wide range of applications, PVA is a shining example of innovation and ingenuity in materials science. PVA has found its way into numerous industrial, pharmaceutical, and everyday products, from its exceptional water solubility and biodegradability to its film-forming capabilities and adhesive properties. This blog post will answer some frequently asked questions about PVA and its properties, uses, and environmental impact.

PVA, short for polyvinyl alcohol, is a colorless, odorless synthetic polymer that is soluble in water. As a synthetic polymer, PVA is classified as a plastic made from fossil fuel sources. It is sometimes abbreviated to PVOH or PVAl to differentiate it from a similarly named compound, polyvinyl acetate which is most commonly used in wood glues. 

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA, sometimes referred to as PVOH) is a water soluble polymer used widely in adhesives, paints, sealants, coatings, textiles, plastics, etc. The polymer is normally supplied in powder form and several grades are available with varying viscosity and solubility characteristics. 

PVA is a thermoplastic synthetic polymer that, unlike many other synthetic polymers, is made by hydrolysis of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc). PVA's applications have grown in the previous decade as a result of its unique qualities, which include strong mechanical properties, chemical and thermal stability, non-toxicity, film-forming capabilities, and inexpensive manufacturing costs.PVA is used in a variety of industries, including textiles, paper, and food packaging, as well as biodegradable products such as backing rolls, adhesives, coatings, and surfactants. Aside from technical uses, PVA, like other synthetic polymers, has applications in medicine and biology and has become one of the primary focuses of polymer researchers.

I see it mentioned frequently—and hotly debated—online, and among the cleaning product industry, many environmental communities, and some scientists. The issue revolves around whether the ingredient is plastic or not, and further, whether its existence in products that are going to travel down the drain into our water waste system is a problem.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a versatile synthetic polymer that has found its way into a myriad of industrial applications due to its unique properties. This article aims to provide an objective overview of PVA, exploring its uses, properties, and the environmental implications of its widespread use.

The degree of polymerization of PVA is divided into ultra-high degree of polymerization (molecular weight of 250,000–300,000), high degree of polymerization (molecular weight of 170,000–220,000), medium degree of polymerization (molecular weight of 120,000–150,000) and low degree of polymerization (25,000–35,000). The degrees of alcoholysis are generally 78%, 88% and 98%. The degrees of alcoholysis for partial alcoholysis are usually 87–89%, and the degree of alcoholysis for complete alcoholysis is 98–100%. For product type of PVA, the thousand and hundred digits of the average degree of polymerization are usually put in the front, and the percentage of alcoholysis degree is put in the back. For example, PVA 17-88 means PVA with a polymerization degree of 1,700 and an alcoholysis degree of 88%. In general, as the degree of polymerization increases, the viscosity of the aqueous solution increases, and the strength and solvent resistance after film formation increase, but the solubility in water and the elongation after film formation decrease.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a biodegradable and water-soluble synthetic polymer used in a wide variety of different products and processes.Other acronyms that are commonly used to refer to polyvinyl alcohol include PVOH and PVAI.

In this country, we use an estimated 20 billion dishwasher and laundry pods and sheets each year. Each one is made with or wrapped in polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA. Although that wrapping seems to magically disappear, a recent study showed 75% of it actually ends up in our waterways.“Most people don’t realize that the material used to individually wrap single-dose laundry and dishwasher detergent pods is actually plastic,” says Sarah Paiji Yoo, co-founder and CEO of Blueland cleaning products. “Like other forms of plastic pollution, PVA has the potential to cause harm to the environment, plants and animals.”Nearly all leading brands, conventional and natural, use PVA in their laundry and dishwasher pods. Here’s what to know about polyvinyl alcohol and its effects on the environment.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), also known as also known as PVOH, PVA, or PVAL, is a man-made or synthetic polymer made from the polymerization of vinyl acetate monomer. PVA polymer molecule contains vinyl and alcohol groups. It is a water-soluble polymer that is odorless, non-toxic, crystalline, bio-degradable,environment-friendly, and flammable in nature, and is resistant to grease, oils, and solvents.

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic polymer that has garnered considerable attention for its diverse applications in both the medical and industrial fields. Though not a drug in the traditional sense, it finds extensive usage in pharmaceutical formulations, medical devices, and a variety of consumer products. This material is known for its exceptional chemical properties, including biocompatibility, film-forming ability, and water solubility. Several research institutions and industrial labs are investigating new ways to utilize PVA in drug delivery systems, wound dressings, and even tissue engineering.