Name: China Supplier High Quality Poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) CAS 25086-89-9
Brand: Wuhan Fortuna Chemical Co., Ltd.

Poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate), often abbreviated PVP/VA or Copovidone, is a water-soluble, synthetic copolymer made from two monomers:

1-Vinylpyrrolidone (VP): Provides excellent film-forming, adhesion, complexation (e.g., with tannins, iodine), and colloidal stabilization properties. It's very hydrophilic.

Vinyl Acetate (VA): Provides flexibility, reduced hygroscopicity (moisture absorption), and improved solubility in less polar solvents compared to pure PVP. It's more hydrophobic than VP.

Key Characteristics:

Structure: It's a random copolymer, meaning the VP and VA monomer units are arranged randomly along the polymer chain. The ratio of VP to VA can vary significantly (e.g., 70:30, 60:40, 30:70) depending on the desired properties.
Solubility: Soluble in water and a range of organic solvents (like ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform). Solubility depends on the VP/VA ratio – higher VP ratios increase water solubility.
Properties: Combines the best attributes of both homopolymers:
Film Formation: Forms clear, flexible, glossy, and adherent films.
Adhesion: Excellent binding and adhesion properties.
Hygroscopicity: Less hygroscopic than pure PVP (due to the VA content), reducing stickiness.
Amphiphilic Nature: The combination of hydrophilic (VP) and hydrophobic (VA) units gives it surfactant-like properties, aiding in solubilization and stabilization.
Non-Ionic & Biocompatibility: Generally considered non-toxic and biocompatible.

Major Applications:

Hair Care (Primary Use):

Hair Sprays: Primary fixative resin. Provides strong hold, humidity resistance (less prone to becoming sticky than pure PVP), good sprayability, and brushability.
Mousses, Gels, Styling Lotions: Provides hold, film formation, and conditioning.
Pharmaceuticals (Copovidone USP/NF/PhEur grade):

Tablet Binder: Binds powder particles together during direct compression or wet granulation.
Film Coating: Used in immediate-release and functional coatings.
Solid Dispersion Carrier: Improves the solubility and dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs.
Taste Masking: Forms films that mask bitter drug tastes.
Adhesives: Used in remoistenable adhesives (e.g., envelopes, stamps, labels) due to its good adhesion and solubility.
Coatings: Used in various industrial and specialty coatings requiring film formation, adhesion, and solubility.
Personal Care: Beyond hair care, used in skincare products (e.g., as a film former in sunscreens, stabilizer), makeup (mascara, eyeliner), and oral care.
Other: Used as a dispersant, thickening agent, and protective colloid in various industrial applications.

Why it's preferred over pure PVP in many cases (especially hairspray):

Reduced Hygroscopicity: The VA units make the copolymer less prone to absorbing moisture from the air, preventing the "sticky" or "tacky" feel that pure PVP hairsprays can develop in humid conditions.
Improved Flexibility: VA imparts flexibility to the film, making it less brittle and prone to flaking than pure PVP films.
Better Solubility in Alcohols: Important for aerosol hairspray formulations.

In summary: Poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) is a versatile, water-soluble copolymer that leverages the complementary properties of VP (adhesion, film strength, solubility) and VA (flexibility, reduced moisture sensitivity). Its primary use is as a high-performance hair fixative resin, but it also has significant applications in pharmaceuticals, adhesives, and other industries where its unique film-forming and binding properties are valuable.