It is commonly used in adhesives paper coatings textiles packaging films drug delivery systems and as a stabilizer in emulsions due to its film-forming and emulsifying properties.

Its primary purpose is to provide water solubility strong hydrogen bonding for barrier properties against oxygen and aromas and biocompatibility in applications requiring flexible biodegradable films or gels.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA or PVOH) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer with the repeating unit [-CH-CH(OH)-] produced via hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate appearing as a white odorless granular or powdery solid with high tensile strength and flexibility.