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Abstract

The adsorption of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) from aqueous solution to hydrophobic solid-phase objects with varying chemical compositions, sizes, and geometries, is assessed as a new approach for surface modification. The effects of PVOH concentration, adsorption kinetics, PVOH molecular weight, adsorption temperature, solution ionic strength and stepwise deposition on wettability and adsorbed amounts were analyzed by water contact angle and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. PVOH adsorbs to solids significantly different than do other molecules. A much larger adsorbed amount and more dramatic improvement of wettability occurs compared to other molecules. The low solubility of PVOH, the strong tendency for it to crystallize at the solid/water interface and stabilization of the PVOH film by inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding give additional driving forces for adsorption. The available --OH group from adsorbed PVOH is a versatile functional group and is further chemically transformed to a range of other functional groups to impart desired surface properties.

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First Claim