Optical constants of (C2H4O)n (Polyvinyl alcohol, PVA)
Schnepf et al. 2017: n 0.3–1.5 µm
Complex refractive index (n+ik)
Derived optical constants
Dispersion formula
$$n=1.460+0.00665λ^{-2}$$Conditions
substrate: Si
Comments
Isotropic PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) thin film on silicon substrate.
k = 0.0050±0.0004
References
M. J. Schnepf, M. Mayer, C. Kuttner, M. Tebbe, D. Wolf, M. Dulle, T. Altantzis, P. Formanek, S. Förster, S. Bals, T. A. F. König, A. Fery. Nanorattles with tailored electric field enhancement. Nanoscale 9, 9376-9385 (2017) - see Supplementary materials
Data
Additional information
About Polyvinyl alcohol
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, (C2H4O)n) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer that exhibits excellent film forming, emulsifying, and adhesive properties. Due to its hydrophilic nature and high biocompatibility, it is frequently employed in a variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery systems and wound care products. In the realm of optics, PVA is commonly used as a base material for hydrogel contact lenses due to its comfort and permeability to oxygen. It is also utilized in the creation of polarizing films for LCDs. PVA's unique structural characteristics, which include a mix of both crystalline and amorphous regions, can influence its optical properties. This polymer is also known for its barrier properties against gases, making it useful in packaging. One of the interesting attributes of PVA is its ability to form hydrogels when treated appropriately, expanding its range of potential applications. While it possesses many advantageous qualities, it is important to note that PVA is sensitive to moisture, which can alter its physical properties.
Other names and variations:- (C2H4O)n
- PVA
- Poly(vinyl alcohol)
- PVOH
- PVAl
- Kuraray Poval
- Mowiol
- Celvol
- Polyviol
- Elvanol