Home – Home – Jornals – Chemistry for Sustainable Development 2023 number 5

Two methods for the transition of aqueous solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) from the liquid state of aggregation to the solid state are considered. Freezing an aqueous solution of PVA at a negative temperature and subsequent thawing at a positive temperature result in the formation of rubber-like cryogels. Another way is chemical crosslinking of kinetically individual PVA macromolecules to spatial networks having elastic properties. Sodium tetraborate was used to structure aqueous PVA solutions. The rheological properties of a two-component aqueous solution of PVA were studied. The study shows that the polymer solution exhibits the properties characteristic of non-Newtonian liquids. The kinetics of gelation of the products of chemical structuring of aqueous PVA solutions with an aqueous sodium tetraborate solution was studied. It is shown that viscosity increases with time as a consequence of chemical interaction. The mechanical properties of carbon-containing composite materials obtained by various methods have been investigated. It has been determined that the most durable materials are those formed by the cryotropic method and those chemically structured after cryogenic treatments. The stress-strain and moisture-resistant properties of carbon materials enable their use as fuel briquettes with a minimum amount of a binder. They can also serve as high-energy fuels for domestic and industrial purposes. The chemical method of structuring a PVA solution can be used for dust control in coal mines.