Polyvinyl acetal
Description
1) A general name for a family of thermoplastic vinyl resins produced by the condensation of alcohol polyvinyl alcohol with an aldehyde. Examples are polyvinyl acetal (Alvar), polyvinyl formal (Formvar) and polyvinyl butyral (Butvar). They are used as adhesives, paints, coatings, and films.
2) A specific name for resins made from the condensation of polyvinyl alcohol with acetaldehyde (Alvar). Polyvinyl acetal is a thermoplastic, transparent resin used in lacquers, coating and for phonograph records. It is tough and hard with good adhesion but weathers less well than acetate polyvinyl acetate.
Note: these resins are not the same as resin acetal resins.
Synonyms and Related Terms
poly(vinyl acetal); polivinilacetal (Esp.); Alvar; Butvar [Solutia]; Formvar [Solutia]; Vinylite [Union Carbide];
Additional Information
Krysia E. Spirydowicz, Elizabeth Simpson, Robert A. Blanchette, Arno P. Schniewind, Mauray K. Toutloff, Alison Murray, 'Alvar and Butvar: The Use of Polyvinyl Acetal Resins for the Treatment of the Wooden Artifacts from Gordion, Turkey', JAIC 40(1), 2001.
Authority
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
- Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- Theodore J. Reinhart, Theodore J. Reinhart, 'Glossary of Terms', Engineered Plastics, ASM International, 1988
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000