Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA / PVOH) – Industrial Grades
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, also PVOH) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer, formula (CH2CHOH)n, valued for film forming, adhesion and thermal stability.
What PVA is – and the industrial-vs-decorating confusion
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, also PVOH) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer, formula (CH2CHOH)n, valued for film forming, adhesion and thermal stability. A word of clarity first: industrial PVA/PVOH powder used in mortars, adhesives and coatings is not the same thing as the retail ‘PVA glue’ sold for decorating – this page is about the industrial polymer. The single most important number on a PVA grade is its degree of hydrolysis.
- Dry-mix mortars – film forming and adhesion.
- Adhesives – bonding and film formation.
- Coatings – film forming and thermal stability.
How hydrolysis degree decides everything
Partially hydrolysed grades (around 86-89 mol%) dissolve more readily in room-temperature water; fully hydrolysed grades (around 98-99 mol%) give stronger films and better water resistance but need more heat and time to dissolve. Getting this backwards – dosing a fully hydrolysed grade into cold water – is the classic site failure. PVA grade band (ANTHOCEL format; grades are designated by degree of polymerisation and hydrolysis, e.g.
Grade band – and how every figure is stated
| Grade | Degree of hydrolysis | Viscosity (cps) |
|---|---|---|
| 05-99 | 98.5-99.2 mol% | ~5-6 |
| 17-99 | 98.5-99.2 mol% | ~25-30 |
| 24-99 | 98.5-99.2 mol% | ~58-68 |
| 26-99 | 98.5-99.2 mol% | ~70-80 |
| 05-88 | 86-89 mol% | ~5-6 |
| 17-88 | 86-89 mol% | ~21-26 |
| 24-88 | 86-89 mol% | ~44-50 |
| 26-88 | 86-89 mol% | ~50-58 |
Grades are designated by degree of polymerisation and degree of hydrolysis – so 17-88 is a partially hydrolysed grade, and 24-99 a fully hydrolysed one. Typical across the band: volatiles below 5 wt%, ash below 0.7 wt%, pH 5-7. CAS 9002-89-5.
Note on figures: these specifications follow the agreed grade standard. Batch-specific values are confirmed on the certificate of analysis issued with each shipment.
Applications
Industrial PVA/PVOH powder goes into dry-mix mortars, adhesives and coatings, where it is used for film forming, adhesion and thermal stability. The grade decision comes down to one thing before anything else – hydrolysis degree, and therefore how the powder has to be dissolved. Tell us which of the three you are making and how you dose it, and we will nominate a grade from the band above.
Documents
Certificates we hold are available for your review.
These specifications are provisional pending our own batch data; confirm against the grade you order.
We manufacture in our own plant inside a national-level chemical park in Wudi, Binzhou, Shandong: 68,000 m2, 27,000 tonnes a year, 120 staff of whom 30 are qualified technical personnel. These are numbers you can verify on site, and visits are welcome.
(PVA figures are provisional until our own batch data is on file – please confirm against the grade you order.)
Request the PVA spec sheet + a quote
Request the PVA spec sheet + a quote.