Detection and quantitative determination of the crystalline phase in poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels by ATR FTIR spectroscopy

The molecular structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) in its cryogels obtained via a single freeze-thaw cycle of aqueous solutions of the polymer is investigated by ATR FTIR spectroscopy. By means of Fourier deconvolution and spectral subtraction, methods, it is found that the spectra of cryogels contain a hidden crystallinity band at 1144 cm(-1) due to poly(vinyl alcohol). For poly(vinyl alcohol) films crystallized at different temperatures, a quantitative relationship is established between the relative intensity of absorption at a frequency of 1144 cm(-1) in the spectra of the polymer and its degree of crystallinity estimated via wide-angle X-ray diffraction. In terms of this relationship, the degree of crystallinity of poly(vinyl alcohol) in the cryogels is determined from their ATR FTIR spectra. This parameter is found to be 6, 10, and 14% for the cryogels with PVA concentrations of 9, 17, and 29%, respectively. The obtained data suggest that the formation of the cryogels is accompanied not only by the appearance of polymer crystallites but also by a change in the system of hydrogen bonds between the polymer and water.