PVOH films are a popular choice for packaging harmful chemicals. These water-soluble materials are used to limit the exposure of humans to these materials. When these films are exposed to water, they decompose. Water-soluble applications of PVOH films are further subdivided into detergents, agrochemicals, and water treatment chemicals. Further, the water-soluble application segment is further divided into laundry bags, polarizers, and embroidery. This water-soluble property is expected to drive requirements for PVOH films.
Applications for PVOH films include detergent
packaging, agrochemicals, food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals. In addition,
polyvinyl acetate films are used in the textile and garment industry as a
protective barrier. In addition to this, growing awareness about the
environmental impact of products is leading to the increased use of
biodegradable packaging materials in household cleaning products. The
miniaturization of electronic components is another major factor driving the PVOH
films market. As a result, a growing percentage of the packaging
material is made up of biodegradable material.
Polyvinyl alcohol is a widely used solvent for the
production of PVOH films, food packaging PVA plastic, and wood adhesives. The
chemical's many properties make it useful in many industries, including
pharmaceutics and health applications. But regulations on drugs and food have
hampered research. Fortunately, scientists have come up with an alternative for
the solvent. The increasing prevalence
of water treatment plants in the U.S. has increased the requirements for PVOH
films. For instance, according to the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, there are over 16,000 publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants in the
U.S.
While PVOH films are a natural organic compound, it is
widely used in the production of other resins. In the automotive industry, it's
commonly used for laminated safety glass. It is highly resistant to water and
is biodegradable. Butyraldehyde, butyral, and formaldehyde are among the most
common forms of polyvinyl alcohol. In addition to being biodegradable, these
materials also do not contribute to global warming.