The effect of D-sorbitol on thermal properties of polyvinyl alcohol with various molecular weights

D-sorbitol/Polyvinyl alcohol (D/PVA) polyblends were obtained by mixing polyvinyl alcohol (various molecular weights) and D-sorbitol in melting process at about 210°C. Furthermore, the behaviors and mechanisms of thermal degradation for D/PVA were investigated herein. The molecular weights of polyvinyl alcohol affected the thermal degradation behaviors of materials. The T1max of samples with low and high molecular weights polyvinyl alcohol were at about 316∼328 v and 314∼322° C respectively, indicating that the samples with high molecular weights polyvinyl alcohol revealed low T _1maxand poor thermal stability. Compared to two series of samples, their T_2max at about 451∼468° C were analog. The T _2max of samples with low molecular weights polyvinyl alcohol were unaffected by the D-sorbitol contents. However, the T_2max of samples with high molecular weights polyvinyl alcohol shifted to high temperature as the D-sorbitol contents increased, except for sample with 12 phr of D-sorbitol. The phenomenon exhibited that D-sorbitol had thermal stable effect on polyvinyl alcohol degradation, but samples with low molecular weights polyvinyl alcohol were unable to detect.