The dielectric properties of cyanoethylated polyvinyl alcohol

Cyanoethylated polyvinyl alcohol (CEPVA) polymers are made by reacting acrylonitrile with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). In this reaction, called cyanoethylation, hydroxy (OH) groups on the PVA chain are progressively replaced by cyanoethyl ether linkages (-OCH₂-CH₂CN) derived from the acrylonitrile. By stopping the reaction at appropriate times, the percentage replacement of (OH), called the degree of cyanoethylation (D.S.) can be varied from Zero to 100%. The nitrogen (N) content of the resulting polymer is a measure of its D.S.; 14.42% N being equivalent to 100% D.S.