Polyvinyl Acetal (PVA) is a porous synthetic polymer. PVA emulsions have traditionally been used as adhesives for porous materials; wood, paper, and cloth. PVA is also used in paint and other industrial coatings. Rippey understood the potential of this unique material and resynthesized the chemistry to develop a “new” material with optimized physical properties that could be readily adapted for critical contact cleaning applications.

SEM_1b

1.Water soluble Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVOH)

2.Reacts with an Aldehyde (-CHO) in the presence of a Catalyst

3.To form water insoluble Polyvinyl Acetal (PVA)

PVA reaction_3

Rippey PVA

Wiper_2
  • Highly porous structure with excellent fluid absorption and retention characteristics
  • Soft and pliable when moist with extremely high mechanical toughness
  • Low releasable contamination
  • Excellent chemical resistance
  • Tunable physical properties
  • Surface morphology can be engineered to enhance or resist adhesion of particles
  • Electrokinetic properties can be modified to control particle repulsion behavior
  • Safe for ESD sensitive equipment and surfaces