Poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVOH) is a water-soluble polymer, and its solubility greatly depends on the hydrolyzed percentage, i.e., the percentage of hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate. PVOH is fully biodegradable. PVOH is produced by no less than 20 companies worldwide; the renowned producers are Kuraray, Denka, Sekisui, Synthomer, and many more. The water-soluble characteristic of PVOH makes it extensively used as a binder, emulsifier, and thickening agent for a wide range of products such as paper, remoistenable adhesives, textile finish, paper surface treatment, as well as cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical products. PVOH is suitable for food, drugs, and cosmetics for packaging purposes since it has outstanding barrier properties to gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.
