about preparation of PVA water solution - Chemical Forums

Hi All,

I need help from you guys about PVA water solution. I did try to disolve PVA (Mw 89,000-98,000, 99+% hydrolyzed Poly(vinyl alcohol) powder from Sigma Aldrich), but I failed. I am describing the method I used, could you guys please point out what I did wrong?

Currently I heated a bottle with 10 ml water at 98 degree C and keep stir at 300 rpm, then I slowly add 1 gram of the above PVA powder into it. After keep heat and stir for 4 hours, I stop heat and stir. Then a few minutes later, white soft staff appeared at the bottom of the bottle. I tried to spin coat the solution on silicon, but I got very non-uniform film. I can see big grains (about 0.5 mm) composed of the film. After drying the film, the film becomes very fragile.

My objective is prepare less than 10 um thick uniform PVA film on silicon substrate. But right now I even couldn't get uniform PVA solution to start with. I am wondering if you can provide me some help on preparing PVA solution of ~ 10 wt%. Thank you very much. Polymers that big can take days to actually go into solution. Remember it is a diffusion process and diffusion is proportional to mass (among other things).


Also, believe it or not, often with larger polymers rapid stiring actually slows down the process (not always).

Conversely, if you need a lot of agitation for something to go into solution, sonicating is often better.


My solution, stir it gently (but thoroughly) over the weekend and see what you get Monday.


Also, is water the best choice for thin films? Thank you so much.

I will try your advices. I found on wiki and other papers that PVA is a water soluble polymer and good to dissolve in water. Also it seems that PVA water solution is extensively used in industry to produce thin films. If you have any other suggestions on the choices of solvents for PVA, please let me know.

Thank you.

Polymers that big can take days to actually go into solution. Remember it is a diffusion process and diffusion is proportional to mass (among other things).


Also, believe it or not, often with larger polymers rapid stiring actually slows down the process (not always).

Conversely, if you need a lot of agitation for something to go into solution, sonicating is often better.


My solution, stir it gently (but thoroughly) over the weekend and see what you get Monday.


Also, is water the best choice for thin films?

Polyvinyl alcohol dissolves well in water, but not much else.  Be careful with your thin films, they will pull a lot of moisture out of the air and that will plasticize them, changing their mechanical properties.  The plasticization may also cause the films to deform, causing wrinkling or dewetting from the wafer.  Just keep an eye out for that.

As for making your solutions, molecular weights that high are going to take a long time to dissolve.  You may also find that you can't make a 10 %wt solution of PVA that is that heavy.  We usually don't use molecular weights like that at a concentration of more than a few %wt because the solutions get too viscous.

Follow the suggestion above of letting the solution stir for several days, gently, at room temperature and see what you get, it should work a lot better.

What is Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol is an essential industrial chemical and a synthetic polymer. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a vinyl polymer with solely carbon–carbon bonds. The connection is the same as that of common plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, as well as water-soluble polymers like polyacrylamide and polyacrylic acid. PVA is the only vinyl polymer known to be mineralized by microbes among those manufactured industrially. 

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Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)

What is Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) used for?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol is an important Industrial and Commercial Chemical widely used in various industries due to its rich applications.

• Sizing agents, such as Poly Vinyl Alcohol, is used to give textile yarns more strength.
• Poly Vinyl Alcohol is also employed in construction materials and specialty items.
• Poly Vinyl Alcohol makes paper more oil and grease resistant.
• It's also used as an ingredient in adhesives and emulsifiers, as a water-soluble protective layer, and as a starting material for other resins.
• Because PVA is water soluble and biodegradable, it is used to create watersoluble and biodegradable carriers, which may be helpful in the production of chemical delivery systems such as fertilisers, insecticides, and herbicides.

What is the chemical formula of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)?

The chemical formula of Poly Vinyl Alcohol is (C2H4O) x.

Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)

Where is Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) found? What does Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) look like?

PVA is created by dissolving another polymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), in an alcohol like methanol and treating it with an alkaline catalyst like sodium hydroxide. The resulting hydrolysis, or "alcoholysis," reaction removes the acetate groups from the PVAc molecules without causing any disruption to their long-chain structure. Poly Vinyl Alcohol is manufactured as a powder, granules, or pellets, as well as a water solution. It has no colour and is odourless.

Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)

What are the hazardous effects of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)?

The substances contained within the Poly Vinyl Alcohol are often unsafe. PVA pods may contain highly concentrated detergents that are harmful if swallowed or come into contact with our skin.

What are the precautionary measures necessary to be taken to handle Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol should be kept out of the reach of children. Before using, read the label.

While using this product, do not eat, drink, or smoke. Protective gear should be worn.

Make use of spark-proof and explosion-proof equipment.

What will happen if Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) is heated?

When Poly Vinyl Alcohol is heated, it can produce flammable dust concentrations in the air.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of polyvinyl alcohol powder. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Is Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) soluble?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol is soluble in water.

Where can I buy Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) is available for purchase online at Camachem. It comes in three different packaging options: 20kg sealed bags and 50kg sealed bags. Camachem has been exporting Poly Vinyl Alcohol to the rest of the world directly from China.

Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)

How much does Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) cost?

The cost of raw materials used in the manufacturing process influences the price of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA). At Camachem, the estimated per-ton cost is $1,720.00.

Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)

What is the pH of Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA)?

The pH of Poly Vinyl Alcohol ranges between 5.0 to 6.5.

Is Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) an Electrolyte compound?

Electrolyte films made of Poly Vinyl Alcohol are one type of polymer-based electrolyte.

Can Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) go down the drain?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol should not be released into the environment. Prevent from releasing it into the drains as it can cause potential damage to aquatic life.

Is Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) acidic or basic?

Poly Vinyl Alcohol is basic in nature.

What is difference between Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) and Polyvinyl Acetate?

In Poly Vinyl Alcohol, hydroxyl side chain is present, whereas the acetate side chain is present in polyvinyl acetate. PVOH is more hydrophilic and soluble in water than PVOAc because hydroxyl groups are more polar. Poly Vinyl Alcohol is utilised in items like dishwasher detergent casings since it is so water-soluble. The more frequent polymer found in glues like wood and paper glue is polyvinyl acetate (PVOAc). It has a low water solubility.

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