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Synthesis of high‐molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) by low‐temperature emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate and saponification
Author(s) -
Wang Bin,
Bao Xiaoming,
Jiang Mengjin,
Ye Guangdou,
Xu Jianjun
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.35464
Subject(s) - saponification , vinyl acetate , vinyl alcohol , polymer chemistry , emulsion polymerization , polymerization , monomer , potassium persulfate , potassium hydroxide , materials science , molar mass distribution , chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , copolymer
Abstract High‐molecular weight (HMW) poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was prepared via an emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) using a redox initiation system in low temperatures, and the subsequent saponification with potassium hydroxide in methanol. The effect of the polymerization conditions on the conversion, molecular weight, and branching degree was investigated. PVA with maximum viscosity‐average degree of polymerization (DP) of 8270 could be prepared by saponification of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), with DP of 10,660 obtained at temperature of 10°C, monomer concentration of 30%, potassium persulfate molar ratio to monomer of 1/2000, agitation speed of 160 rpm. The conversion was above 90%. From the emulsifier‐free emulsion polymerization of VAc in low temperature, PVAc with HMW and high linearity was effectively prepared, which might be useful for the preparation of high‐strength and high‐modulus PVA fiber. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012