Appearance
translucent, colorless or pale-yellow, odorless, and tasteless solid
Application
1. Adhesives: Polyvinyl alcohol is an important component of adhesives due to its water-soluble nature, flexibility, and film-forming properties.
2. Textile industry: It is used as a sizing agent to add stiffness and smoothness to fabrics during their manufacture.
3. Paper industry: Polyvinyl alcohol is used as a paper coating agent to improve the paper's strength and water resistance.
4. Personal care products: It is used in the formulation of various personal care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and lotions, due to its ability to impart emulsifying, thickening, and moisturizing properties.
5. Food industry: It is used as a thickener, stabilizer, and binder in the food industry to enhance the texture and shelf life of various products, such as sauces, salad dressings, and ice creams.
6. Medical industry: Polyvinyl alcohol is used as a component of various medical devices, such as contact lenses and surgical sponges, due to its biocompatibility and low toxicity.
