Solid-state 13C NMR study of poly(vinyl alcohol) gels

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with 55% and 61% syndiotacticity, and their related dry and hydrated gels obtained by two different freeze–thawing cycles have been investigated using the solid-state ¹³C CP-MAS NMR technique. From a comparative analysis of the spectra, evidence was obtained that the gelation process largely disrupts the intramolecular hydrogen-bonded network of the PVA. The addition of water to the dry gels favours their swelling, destroying intra-chain hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups as a function of the degree of tacticity and the gelation procedure, and promotes the formation of new networks of interchain hydrogen bonds. Information on the dynamics of the polymeric domains in the kilohertz range has been obtained from the analysis of the spin relaxation times T_1ρ(¹H) and T_1ρ(¹³C), indicating that homogeneous arrangements of the amorphous or swollen polymeric chains exist, independent of the preparation method or the tacticity of the PVA chains.