Polyvinyl alcohol – an excellent barrier against oxygen and grease

Our polyvinyl alcohol product portfolio includes the following grades Kuraray Poval™, Elvanol™ & Exceval™ manufactured globally at a number of production plants. There is a strong pull from the market to develop sustainable, novel and convenient packaging for extended shelf-life foods. At the same time there is an industry drive to increase the functionality of the flexible/rigid paper/board packaging and through that adding commercial value. There is therefore an opportunity to develop new aqueous barrier coatings for paper and board packaging.

Polyvinyl alcohol is a nonionic water-soluble polymer that is well suited for water-based barrier coatings. Polyvinyl alcohol is a linear and crystalline polymer that is also biodegradable under the right conditions. The hydrophilic nature of polyvinyl alcohol makes it well suited as a barrier against grease and mineral oils. The hydrogen bonds between the polymer chains together with the crystalline structure make polyvinyl alcohol the best available barrier against oxygen. Polyvinyl alcohol is approved to be used in food packaging according to BfR and FDA.

Flexible and Rigid Packaging

Kuraray has worked extensively to develop water-based barrier coatings for the packaging sector and our Kuraray Poval™ and Exceval™ are already used in applications where an oxygen barrier or a grease / mineral oil barrier is needed.

Kuraray Poval™

Exceval™

Paper

Our Kuraray Poval™, Elvanol™ and Exceval™ grades are well known to the paper industry. They are widely used in coated graphic papers, ink jet papers, thermal papers and release liners. They can be coated by all the commonly used coating methods like film press, blade coaters or curtain coaters. Kuraray offers a wide range of products to meet the requirements and needs of the different applications.

Kuraray Poval™

Elvanol™

Exceval™