Composition dependent structural modulations in transparent poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels.

Transparent and stable Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels were synthesized from polymer aqueous solution without resorting to a mixed solvent such as dimethyl sulfoxide and water. Contrary to the reported methods involving hydrogen bond induced physical crosslinking by repeated freeze-thawing at -20 degrees C, the present process demonstrates the gelation taking place at relatively higher temperature, i.e.