THE EFFECT OF UV IRRADIATION ON THE STRUC TURE AND PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITES OF POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL) WITH POLYACIDS

The possibility is shown to reversibly change the physical structure o f composite films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and polyacids using sho rt-time UV irradiation. The irradiation influences the stereoregularit y and molecular mobility. The sorption properties also reversibly chan ge upon irradiation. The possibility of such structural changes is ass ociated with the formation of a liquid-crystal phase in the films. It is suggested that the formation of composites of poly(vinyl alcohol) ( or another polymer) with polyacids [e.g., poly(methacrylic), poly(acry lic), or silicotungstic acids, or carboxymethylcellulose] or their sal ts is one possible method for preparing controlled liquid-crystal film structures.