Description

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a stable, non‑toxic, water‑soluble polymer produced through the polymerization of vinyl acetate followed by controlled alcoholysis. Its molecular structure, represented as (CH₂CHOH)ₘ(CH₂CHOCOCH₃)ₙ, contains varying proportions of vinyl alcohol and residual vinyl acetate units depending on the degree of hydrolysis. Commercial PVA products are typically classified using a four‑digit code: the first two digits (×100) indicate the degree of polymerization, while the last two digits represent the degree of hydrolysis.

The physicochemical properties of PVA are primarily governed by these two parameters. Fully hydrolyzed PVA contains minimal hydrophobic acetate groups, allowing highly ordered molecular packing and extensive hydrogen bonding among abundant hydroxyl groups. This results in a crystalline polymer with high mechanical strength. Partially hydrolyzed PVA, in contrast, behaves as a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and vinyl acetate. The hydrophilic vinyl alcohol units and hydrophobic acetate groups impart amphiphilic characteristics, enabling the polymer to increase aqueous viscosity while reducing oil–water interfacial tension.

Fully hydrolyzed PVA solutions gradually increase in viscosity over time and may undergo gelation, which can be reversed by reheating. Gelation can also be induced by additives such as sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, or borax. Partially hydrolyzed PVA solutions, however, do not form gels under these conditions.

Product Information

Product Name: Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) 

CAS Number: 9002‑89‑5 

Chemical Formula: (CH₂CHOH)ₙ 

Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry place with the container tightly sealed.

Product Applications

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) can undergo both physical and chemical crosslinking under external stimuli. Hydrogels prepared through cyclic freeze–thaw processing form physically crosslinked crystalline domains that endow the material with rubber‑like elasticity and mechanical strength far superior to most conventional hydrogels. With exceptional tensile and compressive performance, along with excellent flexibility and extensibility, PVA has become an ideal candidate for soft and stretchable substrates, supporting the development of next‑generation wearable and implantable medical devices.

PVA can also serve as a versatile hydrogel matrix for constructing composite materials by blending with various polymers or incorporating nanoparticles. These hybrid systems enable tunable mechanical properties and biological functions that closely match those of diverse native tissues, meeting the requirements of advanced biomedical, sensing, and tissue‑engineering applications.

Biomedical Research and Development Raw Materials

• Poly(lactic‑co‑glycolic acid) (PLGA)
• Polycaprolactone (PCL)
• Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) | 9004‑32‑4
• Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) | 9002‑89‑5
• Gelatin | 9000‑70‑8
• Sodium Hyaluronate (HA) | 9067‑32‑7
• Sodium Alginate (Alg) | 9005-38-3
• F127 (Poloxamer 407) | 9003‑11‑6 

Only for research and not intended for treatment of humans or animals

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