Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic polymer that is water-soluble and widely used in various industrial, medical, and consumer applications. It is a versatile material known for its unique combination of properties, which makes it useful across multiple sectors. PVA is produced through the polymerization of vinyl acetate, followed by hydrolysis (the process of converting the ester group of the polymer into a hydroxyl group). The molecular structure of PVA consists of repeating units of vinyl alcohol, which are linked together by strong covalent bonds. Polyvinyl alcohol is typically a white, odorless, and tasteless powder or granular material. Its chemical structure consists of a backbone of carbon atoms with hydroxyl groups (-OH) attached to them. The degree of polymerization (DP), which refers to the number of monomer units in the polymer chain, and the degree of hydrolysis (DH), which refers to the proportion of vinyl acetate units that have been converted into vinyl alcohol units, can be controlled during its synthesis.