Multi-scale investigation of gelatin/poly(vinyl alcohol) interactions in water

This paper reports on a physico-chemical investigation of gelatin and PVA hydrogels and aqueous solutions, aiming at clarifying the interactions between the two polymers in water. The stability of gelatin/PVA/water mixtures was investigated and a ternary phase diagram was evaluated. The morphology, thermal behaviour and structure of selected gelatin/PVA/water samples were studied using several techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, small angle X-ray scattering and rheology. The obtained results indicate that gelatin and PVA interact weakly and the behaviour of the mixed system is mainly dictated by their different interaction with water.