X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels, Obtained by Freezing and Thawing Techniques

The structure of physical poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels prepared by subjecting a PVA/D2O solution (11% w/w PVA) to freeze (−22 °C)/thaw (+25 °C) cycles has been systematically investigated by X-ray powder diffraction technique as a function of the number of cycles and aging time. The structural analysis has been extended to PVA “dried gels” and PVA hydrogels obtained by rehydrating the dried samples. The results of the present analysis confirm that highly stable PVA hydrogels, with a water uptake higher than 80%, may be obtained upon freeze/thaw cycles. The X-ray diffraction profiles of PVA hydrogels have been interpreted in terms of three components: “free water”, crystalline PVA aggregates, and swollen…