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What is the difference between polyethylene and polyvinyl alcohol

Release time:

2021-11-12

Polyethylene is all polymers connected by CH2, and polyvinyl alcohol is a repeating chain link with one hydroxyl group per carbon on the hydrocarbon chain side:-CH2-CH(OH). The structure is different, the natural performance is also very different, the use is also very different. Polyvinyl alcohol can be dissolved in water, while polyethylene cannot.

What is the difference between polyethylene and polyvinyl alcohol

1. polyvinyl alcohol

Polyvinyl alcohol: organic compound, white flake, flocculent or powdery solid, odorless. Soluble in water (above 95 ℃), slightly soluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, insoluble in gasoline, kerosene, vegetable oil, benzene, toluene, dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethylene glycol, etc. Polyvinyl alcohol is an important chemical raw material, which is used to manufacture polyvinyl acetal, gasoline-resistant pipeline and vinylon synthetic fiber, fabric treatment agent, emulsifier, paper coating, adhesive, glue, etc.

On October 27, 2017, the list of carcinogens published by the WHO Cancer Research Agency was preliminarily collated for reference, and polyvinyl alcohol was included in the list of 3 types of carcinogens.

2. polyethylene

Polyethylene (polyethylene, PE) is a thermoplastic resin made by the polymerization of ethylene. In industry, copolymers of ethylene with small amounts of α-olefins are also included. Polyethylene odorless, feel like wax, has excellent low temperature resistance (low temperature up to -100 ~-70 ° C), good chemical stability, resistance to most of the acid and alkali erosion (not resistant to oxidizing acid). Insoluble in general solvents at room temperature, small water absorption, excellent electrical insulation.

On October 27, 2017, the WHO Cancer Research Agency published a preliminary list of carcinogens, and polyethylene was included in the list of 3 carcinogens.

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