| HS Code | 251417 |
| Chemical Name | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) |
| Cas Number | 9002-89-5 |
| Chemical Formula | (C2H4O)n |
| Appearance | White to cream granular powder |
| Degree Of Hydrolysis | Fully hydrolyzed (≥99.3%) |
| Viscosity 4 Aqueous Solution At 20 C | 26.0-34.0 mPa·s |
| Ph 4 Aqueous Solution At 20 C | 6.0-7.5 |
| Ash Content | ≤0.7% |
| Volatile Content | ≤5.0% |
| Bulk Density | 0.45-0.65 g/cm³ |
| Water Solubility | Soluble in hot water above 90°C; insoluble in cold water |
| Melting Point | 200-230°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 75-85°C |
| Tensile Strength Film | 30-50 MPa |
| Elongation At Break Film | 150-350% |
As an accredited SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF is supplied in 25 kg multi-ply paper bags with a moisture-proof liner. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: ULTALUX FF loaded in sealed, dry container on pallets, secured, protected from moisture and contamination. |
| Shipping | SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF ships as a non-hazardous, water-soluble polymer. It should be transported in sealed, moisture-proof packaging to prevent clumping or degradation. Keep dry, avoid exposure to humidity, and store at moderate temperatures during transit. Standard ground freight is typically acceptable for this stable material. |
| Storage | Store SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, open flames, and direct sunlight. Keep containers tightly closed to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Avoid dust accumulation; use appropriate grounding for transfers. Isolate from strong oxidizers and incompatible chemicals. Follow manufacturer’s shelf-life recommendations and inspect packaging regularly. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is 2 years from date of manufacture when stored unopened in a cool, dry area. |
On alkaline woodfree fine-paper lines operating above 800 m/min, the film press applies a starch-based size liquor modified with SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF to raise OBA carrier efficiency and dry pick resistance. The batch cooker is charged with cold water and the dry PVOH is dispersed under high-speed agitation before steam injection raises the slurry to 90–95°C. Cook time is 45–60 min after reaching temperature. The cooked PVOH stock is held at 70–80°C and then metered into an oxidised starch bath. Typical working ratio is 1.0–2.0 parts dry ULTALUX FF per 100 parts dry starch. Total size solids are maintained at 6.0–10.0 wt% depending on base sheet porosity and machine speed. Final Brookfield RVT viscosity at 60°C is usually 120–250 mPa·s at 100 rpm. The value is adjusted with calcium chloride or sodium nitrate in closed-loop systems. Pickup on a Voith SpeedSizer or Metso OptiSizer is set between 1.5 g/m² and 3.5 g/m² per side. When pickup exceeds 3.5 g/m², the dried film develops a measurable curl differential and the sheet loses bending stiffness uniformity. Surface-size penetration shifts from a continuous film to a brittle surface layer. The critical threshold for this grade in high-speed converting is therefore managed by infrared dryer profiling and air-cap temperature. The surface-sized paper is tested for water absorptiveness using ISO 535 with a Cobb60 target from 20 g/m² to 28 g/m² for sheet-fed offset grades. Dry pick resistance is evaluated on the IGT AIC2-5 printability tester according to TAPPI T 459 om-20. Finished goods include high-opacity inkjet papers, cut-sheet laser stock and folded carton board where release lap and scuff resistance must remain stable after varnishing.
Slashing of ring-spun cotton yarns at 60–80 m/min requires a size film that remains intact through the lease rods and healds, then releases cleanly during enzymatic desizing. SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF is applied as the cohesion binder in formulations built from native corn starch, acrylic ester co-binder and a high-density polyethylene wax dispersion. The size liquor is prepared at 8.0–10.0 wt% total solids. ULTALUX FF is dosed at 5.0–7.0 kg per 100 kg of starch plus 1.5–2.5 kg of acrylic co-binder. Wax is limited to 0.5–1.0 wt% of the size bath to avoid excessive slashing cylinder deposits. Add-on on the yarn is controlled by squeeze roll pressure and is normally 10.0–14.0% dry size solids on warp yarn weight. Size-box temperature is maintained at 80–85°C and viscosity is measured continuously with an online viscometer. The dried yarn is split over 5–8 lease rods. Improper film formation appears as hairiness above 40 hairs per 100 m on an Uster Tester 5 when the size film fails to enclose protruding fibres. Desizing effluent compatibility is checked against the ZDHC MRSL for nonylphenol ethoxylates and restricted volatile organic compounds. Finished woven articles include high-count cotton shirting, 400-thread-count sheeting and cotton/polyester twill workwear where weaving efficiency at air-jet looms above 700 rpm depends on reduced warp breaks.
In semi-continuous vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer reactors, ULTALUX FF functions as a high-hydroxyl secondary protective colloid that increases high-shear stability and regulates particle size distribution after the first 40% of monomer feed has been added. The aqueous phase is prepared with 1.0–2.5 wt% ULTALUX FF based on total monomer, alongside a partially hydrolysed PVOH primary colloid at 3.0–5.0 wt%. Sodium acetate buffer and ferrous ammonium sulfate are added for pH and trace metal control. Initiator feed is 0.03–0.08 wt% ammonium persulfate or hydrogen peroxide/tartaric acid. The persulfate system generates hydroxyl radicals that abstract tertiary hydrogen from the PVOH backbone, forming grafted polymer stabilizer at the latex particle surface. Reactor temperature is controlled at 75–85°C under ethylene pressure of 2.5–5.0 MPa in a jacketed stainless steel pressure reactor. The batch is terminated at 45–55 wt% solids and residual monomer is reduced with tert-butyl hydroperoxide and sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate. The resulting dispersion exhibits a viscosity of 2,000–6,000 mPa·s at 25°C measured with a Brookfield RV spindle 6 at 20 rpm. Storage stability at 50°C over 28 days requires preservation with 0.08–0.12 wt% sodium benzoate and 0.10–0.20 wt% ammonia. The protected dispersion is used in wood assembly adhesives, paper laminating and finger-joint glues where ASTM D905-08 shear strength and ASTM D5751-99 water resistance are controlled. Reactor operators must avoid adding borate salts or aluminium sulphate before the letdown stage because borate crosslinking with the fully hydrolysed fraction can generate particle bridging and filter-blocking coagulum.
Re-wettable adhesive coaters running at 100–150 m/min on litho-laminated board demand a dry film that re-tacks within 2–4 s after water activation and does not block under 70% relative humidity. SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF is dissolved at 18–22 wt% solids in a jacketed dissolving vessel at 85–95°C for 60–90 min. The batch is then cooled to 60°C and blended with maltodextrin or thin-boiling dextrin at 10–20 parts per 100 parts PVOH solids. Glycerin or sorbitol is added at 2–5 parts as plasticiser. A nonionic acetylene glycol wetting agent is dosed at 0.1–0.3 parts. The adhesive is applied by a slot-die or gravure coater at 2.0–4.0 g/m² dry coat weight. Drying is performed in a 5-zone air flotation dryer with zone temperatures from 60°C to 100°C. Residual moisture after drying is held between 2.0% and 4.0% to preserve re-wetting speed. Blocking resistance is checked with a face-to-face stack test at 50°C and 80% relative humidity for 24 h. Adhesive transfer to paper is evaluated by a wet tack tester. A dry film of 25–40 g/m² on Kraft should develop enough tack after 25–35 µm of water is applied. United States food-contact use is covered by 21 CFR 175.105 for adhesives when the coating is separated from food by a functional barrier. Finished products include remoisturizing envelopes, repositionable stamps, bill-head file strips and paper splicing tapes.
Aqueous tape casting of alumina substrates with 70–75 wt% solids loading creates a rheological boundary where a small error in binder hydration can shift viscosity from a coatable 1,000–4,000 mPa·s to a non-leveling 8,000 mPa·s fluid within 30 min. ULTALUX FF is dry-blended with the ceramic powder before dispersing in deionised water that contains 0.5–1.5 wt% ammonium polyacrylate dispersant based on dry ceramic mass. The binder addition is 3.0–6.0 parts per 100 parts alumina powder, with PEG 400 plasticiser at 1.0–3.0 parts. Mixing is performed in a planetary centrifugal mill or high-torque dissolver under vacuum to remove entrapped air. Final slurry temperature must remain below 30°C to prevent premature PVOH gelation at the ceramic surface. The slurry is cast onto a silicone-coated polyester carrier at 100–300 mm/min through a doctor blade set to 50–150 µm wet thickness. Drying uses an enclosed multi-zone convection oven at 60–90°C with relative humidity maintained at 50–60% for the first two zones to allow uniform skin formation. Green tape density after drying is 2.2–2.4 g/cm³ for 96% alumina. Tensile strength is measured according to ASTM D882-18 with a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min. Lamination is conducted at 80–90°C and 20–30 MPa for 10–20 min. Binder burnout requires a kiln ramp of 0.5–1.0°C/min to 450°C with air flow above 20 L/min. Residual carbon after burnout must remain below 0.05 wt%. Finished goods include LED alumina substrates, thick-film sensor plates and high-frequency ceramic interposers.
Unit-dose detergent film is cast from an aqueous dope containing 18–22 wt% ULTALUX FF and 8–15 parts plasticiser per 100 parts dry PVOH. Glycerin, sorbitol or trimethylolpropane are selected based on sealing temperature and ambient humidity resistance. The dope is degassed under vacuum and cast onto a polished steel belt heated to 70–90°C. Drying air is supplied in four zones. The first zone is kept at 60–70°C and 50–60% relative humidity to avoid skin-over that would trap residual water. Final film thickness is normally 38–76 µm and residual moisture is controlled to 6.0–10.0 wt%. The dry film is conditioned at 23°C and 50% relative humidity for 24 h before heat-sealing. Seal initiation temperature is determined on a laboratory heat sealer at 0.25 MPa jaw pressure and 0.5 s dwell. Values typically fall between 120°C and 160°C depending on plasticiser partition and film moisture. Dissolution time in cold water is tested in a standard detergent dissolution cell using 500 mL water at 15°C and 25 mm film squares. Packaging-grade films dissolve to pass through a 4 mm screen in 45–120 s. Physical properties are measured with ASTM D882-18 tensile testing and ISO 527-3. Packaging-grade films are specified to exceed 150% elongation at break before ageing. Compatibility with liquid detergents is evaluated under 45°C accelerated storage for 8 weeks. Films containing anionic surfactants above 30 wt% may plasticise the seal layer and lower seal strength. Unwinding of film in an area above 60% relative humidity leads to blocking and loss of seal integrity. Environmental biodegradability of the PVOH film is assessed by OECD 301B or ISO 14852. Finished products include laundry monodose sachets, automatic dishwasher tablets and agrochemical water-soluble pouches where container dimensions and seal area are fixed by machine fill volume.
Pigmented top-coating of coated woodfree and folding boxboard grades uses ULTALUX FF as a co-binder and OBA carrier in low-latex formulations where gloss and ink set-off are controlled at high coater speeds. The coating colour is prepared from 100 parts of a 60:40 ground calcium carbonate/kaolin pigment blend, 8–12 parts styrene-butadiene latex, 0.3–1.0 part ULTALUX FF, 0.05–0.20 part dispersant and 0.1–0.5 part optical brightening agent. Solids content is 58–62 wt%. Brookfield viscosity at 25°C is 800–1,800 mPa·s at 100 rpm. Hercules high-shear viscosity at 4,400 s⁻¹ is kept below 70 mPa·s to avoid blade scratching. The colour is applied with a bent-blade coater operating at 1,000–1,800 m/min and a dry coat weight of 8–12 g/m² per side. Drying is performed with gas-fired infrared dryers followed by air flotation at 90–120°C. OBA fluorescence uniformity is assessed under D65 illumination after re-wetting. ULTALUX FF binds the OBA molecules and reduces migration into the base sheet. Wet pick and dry pick are measured with the IGT AIC2-5 device in accordance with TAPPI T 459 om-20. Print gloss is measured with a 75° glossmeter according to ISO 8254-1. The coated board is converted into high-gloss food cartons, cosmetic packaging and magazine covers where optical brightness must remain stable across the run.
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SELVOL Polyvinyl Alcohol ULTALUX FF is a fully hydrolysed, low-molecular-weight polyvinyl alcohol resin supplied as a fine-particle powder. The polymer is produced by controlled alcoholysis of polyvinyl acetate, with a hydrolysis specification of 98.0–99.0 mol%. The grade is identified by CAS 9002-89-5 and is placed in the Selvol product portfolio as a carrier-grade PVOH for optical brightening agent systems in paper coating rather than as a conventional pigment binder. Its standard specification includes a 4% aqueous solution viscosity of 3.0–3.8 mPa·s at 20 °C, a pH of 5.0–7.0 in 4% aqueous solution, volatile matter not exceeding 5.0%, and ash not exceeding 0.5%. Viscosity is reported against ISO 12058-1:2018, pH against ASTM E70-19, volatile content against ISO 3251:2019, and ash against ISO 3451-1:2019. Published particle-size distribution data for the specific FF designation is limited; the fine-particle descriptor is used in dry-handling and dust-containment specifications to distinguish the product from standard granulated Selvol grades.
At the molecular level, the fully hydrolysed character places ULTALUX FF in the water-insoluble-at-cold conditions segment of the Selvol range. Aqueous dissolution requires heating above 70 °C with mechanical shear, unlike partially hydrolysed Selvol grades such as Selvol 502, Selvol 523, and Selvol 540, which typically occupy 87.0–89.0 mol% hydrolysis and disperse more readily in cold water. The low solution viscosity of ULTALUX FF overlaps with Selvol 103, but the FF product is intended for optical brightening agent carrying, anti-mottling, and low-contribution rheology modification rather than high film-strength binding. In coating formulations requiring IGT surface strength above 1.5 m/s under ISO 3783, addition of a higher-viscosity grade or latex binder is normally required because the low-molecular-weight carrier contributes limited film reinforcement.
The ash limit of ≤0.5% is significant when coated broke is returned to the paper machine wet end. Residual sodium acetate from alcoholysis can raise conductivity and interfere with cationic retention polymers, reducing first-pass retention. The product is therefore controlled for ash and pH consistency to minimise wet-end disturbance. The grade should be stored in sealed containers at 10–35 °C and protected from relative humidity above 60%, because moisture uptake can lead to lumping and loss of free-flow behaviour in feed equipment.
In paper coating, stilbene-based optical brightening agents, typically tetrasulphonated stilbene derivatives, rely on anionic sulfonate groups for water solubility and on planar stilbene chromophores for fluorescence in the blue-violet region. Direct addition of an optical brightening agent into a calcium carbonate or kaolin coating colour often reduces quantum yield because the brightener adsorbs onto pigment surfaces and is quenched by iron, manganese, or aluminium ions. A fully hydrolysed PVOH carrier can pre-complex the brightener through hydrogen bonding between PVOH hydroxyl groups and the sulfonate or amine substituents of the OBA, maintaining the brightener in the continuous phase and reducing pigment-surface adsorption. Published data for the specific complexation efficiency of ULTALUX FF is limited; comparative performance should be established by CIE whiteness measurement under ISO 11475:2017 and ISO brightness under ISO 2470-1:2016.
Mill preparation commonly uses an OBA pre-dispersion made at 10–15% w/w ULTALUX FF in hot water. After complete dissolution, the OBA is metered into the carrier solution, and the resulting complex is cooled to below 40 °C before addition to the coating colour to avoid thermal degradation of the stilbene compound. A 50–100 µm inline screen protects the blade coater from agglomerates. If the coating colour pH exceeds 9.5 or if cationic fixatives are added before the carrier-OBA complex is uniformly dispersed, localised precipitation can appear as fluorescent specking under UV inspection. Water hardness above 200 ppm CaCO₃ can also reduce OBA solubility; chelating agents or softened water are used where mill water hardness is elevated.
The dissolution behaviour of the FF fine-particle grade is controlled by particle wetting, solvent penetration into amorphous domains, and disentanglement of crystalline domains. At temperatures below 70 °C, dissolution is limited by crystallinity of the fully hydrolysed polymer; above 85 °C, the process becomes diffusion-controlled. In polymer science literature, the apparent activation energy for dissolution of fully hydrolysed granulated PVOH in water is often reported near 60–80 kJ·mol⁻¹. For fine-particle FF material, the higher specific surface area reduces time to full molecular dispersion, but published data specific to ULTALUX FF is limited. A comparative dissolution study should use laser diffraction under ISO 13320:2020 to track particle disappearance at 90 °C in a baffled stirred vessel.
On production-scale make-down systems, a typical configuration is a 500 L stainless-steel pre-slurry tank with a Cowles disperser and a 1000 L steam-jacketed cook tank. The powder is introduced into a cold-water vortex at 500–800 rpm, allowed to hydrate for 10 min, and then heated at approximately 1 °C·min⁻¹ to 90 °C, where it is held for 30 min. The finished solution is transferred through a 100 µm bag filter to the coating kitchen. Incomplete hydration is detected as a rise in differential pressure across the filter above 0.5 bar. The solution viscosity at 10% w/w and 20 °C is expected to remain below 100 mPa·s, which is within the capability of positive-displacement metering pumps sized for 50–100 mPa·s maximum feed viscosity.
The low molecular weight of ULTALUX FF means its contribution to high-shear viscosity is limited, permitting blade pressure and coat-weight control without excessive blade bleeding. This differentiates the product from high-viscosity Selvol grades such as Selvol 523 and Selvol 540, which increase film strength but also raise coating colour viscosity. In formulations using 0.2–0.8 parts OBA per 100 parts dry pigment, the carrier is typically introduced at 0.3–1.0 parts per 100 parts pigment. Published data for ULTALUX FF specifically in this range is limited; dosage should be optimised by factorial trial using ISO 11475:2017 and ISO 3783 as response methods.
For packaging grades requiring oxygen transmission below 10 cm³·m⁻²·day⁻¹·atm⁻¹ at 23 °C and 50% RH under ASTM D3985, ULTALUX FF alone is not a sufficient barrier binder. Its low molecular weight yields less film oxygen resistance than high-viscosity fully hydrolysed grades. In such constructions, the carrier may be blended with a high-viscosity PVOH or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol dispersion, but the resulting barrier performance must be confirmed on the finished coated substrate because coating holdout and drying profiles dominate final performance.
High-speed blade coater operation above 1000 m·min⁻¹ introduces process conflicts between OBA activation and binder rheology. Low-viscosity carrier systems reduce blade bleeding, but they can produce misting if the coating colour low-shear viscosity falls below 300 mPa·s at 25 °C. Formulators typically adjust the carrier-to-binder ratio and add rheology modifiers to maintain controlled blade application. Incompatibilities with boron-containing buffers, strongly alkaline silicate stabilisers, and amine-based additives can induce gelation or premature crosslinking; laboratory stability checks at final coating pH are required before mill-scale introduction.
When coated broke is recycled, residual PVOH contributes to biochemical oxygen demand in mill effluent. Closed-loop systems may require oxidation or membrane treatment to reduce dissolved organic load. The product itself is not classified as hazardous under CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, but as an organic dust it can form explosive atmospheres. Dry-handling stations should be assessed under the ATEX workplace directive 1999/92/EC, with dust extraction face velocity controlled at 0.5–1.0 m·s⁻¹.
The use of ULTALUX FF in food-contact paper and paperboard is governed by national and regional frameworks. Because the material is a polymer, supplier regulatory information alone does not establish finished-article compliance. The coated paper or board must be tested under the intended food-contact conditions, including food type, contact temperature, contact time, and surface-to-volume ratio. Published data for the specific migration of ULTALUX FF from coated board into food simulants is limited; migration testing is therefore an article-specific requirement.
| Regulatory reference | Applicability statement | Operational boundary |
|---|---|---|
| FDA 21 CFR 176.170 | Components of paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods. | Finished-article extractives testing required; no direct product approval. |
| FDA 21 CFR 176.180 | Components of paper and paperboard in contact with dry food. | End-testing under intended food type is mandatory. |
| FDA 21 CFR 175.300 | Resinous and polymeric coatings for food-contact surfaces. | Use as coating component; migration limits apply to the finished coating. |
| EU 1935/2004 | Framework regulation for food-contact materials and articles. | Overall migration limit of 10 mg/dm² for the finished paper/board applies. |
| REACH (EC) No 1907/2006 | Registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances. | Polymer exempt from registration; imported monomers or impurities may require registration; no SVHC above 0.1% w/w declared. |
| CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 | Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures. | Not classified as hazardous, but dust explosion and occupational exposure limits still apply. |
Prepared aqueous solutions of ULTALUX FF should not be held beyond 24 h at 20–25 °C without a registered biocide, because PVOH is biodegradable and can support microbial growth under alkaline papermaking conditions. Borate-containing buffers, strongly alkaline additives, and amine-based additives can cause gelation or premature crosslinking; the absence of such incompatibility should be verified in a pilot batch before mill introduction. At relative humidity above 60%, pre-drying the powder at 60–80 °C for 2–4 h may be required to restore flow in screw feeders, but drying above 100 °C should be avoided because discolouration can occur. Published data for the shear stability of OBA-PVOH complexes in high-speed blade coaters above 1200 m·min⁻¹ is limited, and therefore validation should be conducted on the specific coating line with the final coating colour composition.
