Melt processing of poly(vinyl alcohol) through blending with sugar pendant polymer

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was blended with the sugar pendant polymer, poly(glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(GEMA)), through the reprecipitation from the mixed aqueous solution. By blending a small amount (1–25%, w/w) of poly(GEMA) with PVA, the thermal decomposition temperature abruptly increased above 300 °C. This is attributed to the strong hydrogen bonds between PVA and poly(GEMA) molecules. The increase in the difference between the thermal decomposition temperature and the melting point (ΔT∼100 °C) enabled the melt processing of PVA. Blending of poly(GEMA) with PVA was also found to be effective for the suppression of the thermal decomposition of PVA in an aqueous solution.