| Abstract: | Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was prepared by emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) at 40, 50, and 60°C. PVAs of various molecular parameters were dissolved in water at concentrations of 3, 5, and 7% (g/dL) and aged at 30 and 60°C. The effects of the molecular weight and polymerization temperature on the viscosity fluctuation and gelation behavior of aqueous PVA solutions were investigated. Viscosity was increased with increasing molecular weight when other parameters were held the same. PVA of superior molecular regularity due to the lower polymerization temperature of VAc had higher relative viscosity. Viscosity and its fluctuation of PVAs with aging time varied with the polymerization temperature of the precursors, concentration of the aqueous solutions, and aging time. For PVA with a number‐average degree of polymerization of 2800 prepared from poly(vinyl acetate) polymerized at 40°C, a sharp increase in viscosity was observed after 500 min of aging at a concentration of 7%. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1897–1902, 2001 |
