Reinforced, laminated, impregnated and composite-like materials as crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel structures

Abstract

Reinforced, laminated, impregnated, and materials with composite properties as cross linked polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel structures in bulk or cellular matrix forms that can take essentially any physical shape, or can have essentially any size, degree of porosity and surface texture. They have a wide range of physical properties, unusual and unique combinations of physical properties and unique responses to stress fields, which allows for their use in many end use applications.

1 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having 
 (A) a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a bulk physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and    (B) a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.    
     
     
         2 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: 
 (A) a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a bulk physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel laminated with (B) a solid material.    
     
     
         3 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising: 
 (A) a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with    (B) a physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a bulk physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.    
     
     
         4 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         5 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: 
 (A) a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel laminated with    (B) a solid material.    
     
     
         6 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising: 
 (A) a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with    (B) a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.    
     
     
         7 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising: 
 (A) a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with    (B) a covalently cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular covalently crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.    
     
     
         8 . A composite structure comprising two or more physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrices each derived from a bulk physically crosslinkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.  
     
     
         9 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 8  and a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.  
     
     
         10 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 8  laminated with a solid material.  
     
     
         11 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising: a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 8 .  
     
     
         12 . A composite structure comprising two or more physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrices each derived from a cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.  
     
     
         13 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 12  and a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.  
     
     
         14 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 12  laminated with a solid material.  
     
     
         15 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising: a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 12 .  
     
     
         16 . A composite structure comprising two or more covalently cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrices each derived from a cellular covalently cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.  
     
     
         17 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 16  and a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.  
     
     
         18 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 16  laminated with a solid material.  
     
     
         19 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 16 .  
     
     
         20 . A composite structure comprising at least one physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and at least one covalently cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular covalently cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.  
     
     
         21 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 20  and a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.  
     
     
         22 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 20  laminated with a solid material.  
     
     
         23 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 20 .  
     
     
         24 . A composite structure comprising at least one physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a bulk physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and at least one physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.  
     
     
         25 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 24  and a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.  
     
     
         26 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 24  laminated with a solid material.  
     
     
         27 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 24 .  
     
     
         28 . A composite structure comprising at least one physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a bulk physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and at least one covalently cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular covalently cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.  
     
     
         29 . A reinforced polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 28  and a reinforcing material capable of reinforcing said matrix.  
     
     
         30 . A laminated polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 28  laminated with a solid material.  
     
     
         31 . A polyvinyl alcohol impregnated structure comprising a solid structure, said structure being impregnated with a polyvinyl alcohol based material with composite properties as a matrix as claimed in  claim 28 .  
     
     
         32 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel wherein the cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol based matrix is a hydrogel sponge having collapsed walls which has been prepared by the method comprising the steps of: 
 (I) providing a polyvinyl alcohol polymer capable of being physically cross linked;    (II) dissolving said polyvinyl alcohol polymer in a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: 
 (i) a single solvent for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer and,  
 (ii) a mixture of solvents for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer, to form a solution;  
   (III) mixing the solution formed in (II) with a pore-forming material;    (IV) providing conditions for the mixture of (III) in which the polyvinyl alcohol polymer will undergo physical cross linking;    (V) bringing the mixture form (IV) to about room temperature;    (VI) removing all of the solvents by a means which does not significantly affect the cross linking or pore forming material;    (VII) heating the material at an elevated temperature for a period of time of ten seconds to eight hours, and    (VIII) cooling the mixture from (VII) to about room temperature and removing the pore forming material by a means which does not significantly affect the cross linking.    
     
     
         33 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 32  that is reinforced.  
     
     
         34 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 32  that is a laminate.  
     
     
         35 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 32  that is a material with composite properties.  
     
     
         36 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 32  that is an impregnated solid structure.  
     
     
         37 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: 
 a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel wherein the cellular physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol based matrix is a hydrogel sponge having expanded walls which has been prepared by the method comprising the steps of:    (I) providing a polyvinyl alcohol polymer capable of being physically cross linked;    (II) dissolving said polyvinyl alcohol polymer in a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: 
 (i) a single solvent for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer and,  
 (ii) a mixture of solvents for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer, to form a solution;  
   (III) mixing the solution formed in (II) with a pore forming material;    (IV) providing conditions for the mixture of (III) in which the polyvinyl alcohol polymer will undergo physical cross linking;    (V) bringing the mixture from (IV) to about room temperature;    (VI) removing the pore forming material by a means which does not significantly affect the cross linking or pore forming material.    
     
     
         38 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 37  that is reinforced.  
     
     
         39 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 37  that is a laminate.  
     
     
         40 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 37  that is a material with composite properties.  
     
     
         41 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 37  that is an impregnated solid structure.  
     
     
         42 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
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         67 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: 
 a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a combined cellular and bulk physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and wherein the combined cellular and bulk physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol based matrix has been prepared by the method comprising the steps of    (I) providing a polyvinyl alcohol polymer capable of being physically crosslinked;    (II) dissolving said polyvinyl alcohol polymer in a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: 
 (i) a single solvent for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer and,  
 (ii) a mixture of solvents for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer, to form a solution,  
   (III) mixing the solution from (II) with a material selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) a surface active agent and,  
 (b) a mixture of surface active agents and frothing said mixture;  
   (IV) combining the froth formed in (III) with polyvinyl alcohol polymer solution:    (V) providing conditions for a material with composite properties for the mixture from (IV) at which the polymer will undergo physical cross linking;    (VI) bringing the mixture to about room temperature.    
     
     
         68 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 67  that is reinforced.  
     
     
         69 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 67  that is a laminate.  
     
     
         70 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 67  that is a material with composite properties.  
     
     
         71 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 67  that is an impregnated solid structure  
     
     
         72 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure, said structure having: 
 a physically cross linked polyvinyl alcohol based matrix derived from a combined cellular and a bulk physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and wherein the combined cellular and a bulk physically cross linkable polyvinyl alcohol based matrix has been prepared by the method comprising the steps of:    (I) providing a polyvinyl alcohol polymer capable of being physically cross linked;    (II) dissolving said polyvinyl alcohol polymer in a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: 
 (i) a single solvent for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer and,  
 (ii) a mixture of solvents for the polyvinyl alcohol polymer, to form a solution;  
   (III) mixing the solution formed in (II) with a pore forming material;    (IV) combining the mixture of (III) with polyvinyl alcohol polymer solution;    (V) providing conditions for a material with composite properties for the mixture from (IV) at which the polymer will undergo physical cross linking;    (VI) bringing the mixture to about room temperature;    (VII) removing the pore forming material by a means which does not significantly affect the cross linking.    
     
     
         73 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 72  that is reinforced.  
     
     
         74 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 72  that is laminated.  
     
     
         75 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 72  that is a material with composite properties.  
     
     
         76 . A polyvinyl alcohol structure as claimed in  claim 72  that is an impregnated solid structure.  
     
     
         77 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
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