ABSTRACT
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) share a common link, since PVAc is the precursor used in the synthesis of PVA. Over 2 billion pounds of vinyl acetate monomer are produced annually in the United States alone and most of this is used for synthesizing PVAc homopolymer and copolymers. These polymers are used in paints, adhesives, coatings, nonwoven fabrics, and some food products (1). PVA is the world’s largest volume synthetic, water-soluble polymer. It is commercially produced via a continuous process from the hydrolysis of PVAc, usually in methanol, and is available in a wide range of molecular weights. The degree or extent of hydrolysis can be carefully controlled, yielding partially acetylated PVA copolymers. The two most common types are fully hydrolyzed PVA (98 mole%) and partially hydrolyzed PVA (88 mole%). Intermediate hydrolysis grades of PVA are also available. PVA is used in a wide range of applications because of its excellent physical properties, to include adhesives, zv268 fibers, textile and paper sizing, emulsion polymerization, and the production of polyvinyl butyral. It is also used in joint cements for building construction and water-soluble packaging for herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers (2).
