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Porous poly(vinyl formal) foam prepared using poly(vinyl alcohol) of low degree of polymerization
Author(s) -
Li Yuanpeng,
Deng Jianguo,
Zhang Junhua
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.5666
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , polymerization , materials science , degree of polymerization , shrinkage , polymer chemistry , porosity , chemical engineering , absorption of water , composite material , polymer , engineering
Poly(vinyl formal) (PVF) foams are usually prepared using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) of high degree of polymerization, the most reported degree of polymerization being 1700. In the work reported, PVA of low degree of polymerization of 500 was used to prepare PVF foams, which is a great challenge because of the weaker hydrogen bond interaction than that for a higher degree of polymerization. By changing the concentration (from 10 to 20 wt%) of PVA solution, PVF foams were successfully obtained. It was found that a higher PVA concentration prevented foam volume shrinkage and the best concentration was 16 wt%. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the PVF foams had two kinds of pore structures, closed and open cell. The water absorption capacity and thermal properties of the PVF foams were carefully investigated. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry