Melting point and heat of fusion of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Differential thermal analysis was used to study the effect of a diluent, glycerol, and copolymer units, acetate groups, on the melting point of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The melting point of PVA was found to be 228°C. and the heat of fusion by the diluent and copolymer methods was 1.64 and 0.56 kcal./mole, respectively, based on vinyl alcohol units. Flory's theory was used as a basis for analysis. The results are compared with literature values for the heat and entropy of fusion of polyethylene, and the differences briefly discussed.