Influence of Polyvinyl Alcohols on Paper Straw Adhesives and Effect on Straw Resilience

Abstract

Paper straws are gaining popularity worldwide due to the increasing demand for sustainability and government policies that aim to curb the use of single-use plastics. However, there have been concerns about the long-term quality and durability of paper straws when used with liquids. Paper straw adhesives are specially formulated adhesives used to bond the various layers of paper straws together and play a crucial role in maintaining the strength and functionality of paper straws by offering strong bonding and resistance against moisture. Typically, these adhesives are formulated using vinyl ester homopolymers or copolymers, and they can incorporate polyvinyl alcohol as an additive to adjust properties like tackiness, setting time, open time, and drying time. In this study, the water resistance performance of different paper straw adhesives was evaluated, which were prepared using various types of polyvinyl alcohols based on their molecular weight and hydrolysis degree.