Solution Polymerization of Vinyl Acetate with Redox Initiator at Low Temperatures

III. Studies on Polyvinyl Alcohol

Abstract

Properties of polyvinyl alcohol derived from polyvinyl acetate which was polymerized in methanol with t-butyl-perbenzoate-l-ascorbic acid redox initiator at low temperatures were studied. It was found that the equilibrium degree of swelling and densities of PVA films obtained at various temperatures had not significant difference but the 1, 2-glycol structure in polyvinyl alcohol decreased and the crystallinity estimated from infrared spectra increased with lowering polymerization temperature. Ultraviolet spectra of the polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution showed peak maximum at 230 and 275 mμ. It is considered to be mainly the influence of the initiator used.