Reinforced polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels containing uniformly dispersed crystalline fibrils and method for preparing same
US5336551A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 9, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/3192
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
This invention provides reinforced composite structures consisting essentially of a matrix and a dispersed phase, where the matrix is a hydrogel containing water and a solubilized vinyl alcohol homopolymer, the dispersed phase contains a plurality of uniformly distributed acicular regions consisting of fibrils formed from a highly oriented crystalline vinyl alcohol polymer, where the diameter of the said fibrils is less than 1 millimeter, the aspect ratio of the fibrils is from 2:1 to 1000:1, and where the composite is characterized by a gradual transition in the degree of crystallinity at the interfaces between the matrix and the fibrils.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.