Paper

KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ transform paper into art. With outstanding adhesion with cellulose due to hydrogen bonding, film strength, barrier properties, binding strength of filler, and dispersing performance, KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ are used in a variety of paper applications. For example, the specialty grade EXCEVAL™ enhances and improves paper performance by improving water, chemical, and oil resistance.
KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ offer significant advantages for strength and barrier properties in the commodity and specialty paper market.

PVOH (PVA) Product Finder

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barrier using EXCEVAL™ PVOH for paper-based packaging

EXCEVAL™ Barrier for Paper-based Packaging

EXCEVAL™ combines the unique properties of polymer technology with our expertise in barrier technology. Using Kuraray’s expertise, high gas barrier plastic packaging can be extended to paper structures by coating EXCEVAL™ onto the paper substrate. Alternatively, the similar oil and gas barrier chemistry of KURARAY POVAL™, ELVANOL™, or EXCEVAL™ can be applied via many aqueous paper coating techniques. For more information, visit the packaging application page.

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Polyvinyl Alcohol specialties

KURARAY POVAL™ and EXCEVAL™ are soluble polymers that dissolve in water to give viscous transparent solutions. Applications cover a broad spectrum of uses in the paper, textile, construction and adhesives industries as well as in the cosmetics and packaging sectors.

Barrier Performance

KURARAY POVAL™, ELVANOL™, and EXCEVAL™ are the strongest waterborne film-formers commercially available to the paper industry. With properties including chemical resistance to oils, waxes, organic solvents, and water, it is the superior material compared to starches and is used as the silicone barrier layer of Release Liner products. KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ have excellent film formation properties, and films made of KURARAY POVAL™, ELVANOL™, and EXCEVAL™ have higher tensile strength than those made from starch alone.

KURARAY POVAL™ for Tissue Production

KURARAY POVAL™ plays an important role in tissue manufacturing as a part of Yankee coating. This coating technology is used in the manufacture of high-quality structured tissue.

The main function of KURARAY POVAL™ in Yankee Coatings is to give a good pick up of the sheet and to give bulk to the coating. In addition to this KURARAY POVAL™ also influence adhesion of the sheet to the Yankee, creping as well as the rewetting of the coating.

Traditionally, medium to high molecular weight and partially hydrolyzed grades have been used in Yankee coating for high-quality tissue.

Several pilot and production trials with KURARAY POVAL™ 200-88 KX have confirmed a better sheet pick-up and runnability compared to PVOH types normally used in Yankee coatings. The better runnability results in less web breakes and enabels the reduction of the needed Yankee coating amount.

Binders and Coatings

KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ are effective binders in coating formulations at the size press. Because of their excellent binding performance, they can replace starch on a one-to-five basis. With the incorporation of KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ into binding solutions, the optical and surface properties are improved compared to a clear, uncoated sheet. In other sectors, KURARAY POVAL™ and ELVANOL™ are used as powerful binders to produce matte, glossy, or high-speed industrial inkjet papers. Additionally, both are used in thermal dyestuff dispersant, a thermal top coat agent under a combination with a crosslinking agent for thermal paper/label application.