Polyvinyl alcohol/alkyl ketene dimer films with excellent water resistance and water vapor barrier properties

Abstract Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a synthetic biodegradable polymer, is widely used in the packaging, textile, paper, and medical device industries. However, PVA presents critical limitations, such as poor water/moisture resistance and low water vapor barrier properties. Although chemical treatments have been used to overcome these problems, concerns about their toxicity still exist. Herein, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), a non-toxic, cost-effective, and eco-friendly chemical, was used to improve the water resistance and water vapor barrier properties of PVA films. The water absorption and solubility of the PVA/AKD film with an AKD content of 10 wt% (PVA/AKD 10%) were 65.3 and 91.2% lower, respectively, than those of an untreated PVA film. In addition, the water vapor transmission rate of the PVA/AKD 10% film was found to be 58.1% of that of the untreated PVA film, indicating the superior water vapor barrier properties of the PVA/AKD film.