Thermomechanical properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) plasticized with varying ratios of sorbitol

▶ Sorbitol addition to polyvinyl alcohol reduces the glass transition temperature. ▶ Mechanical properties obtained from nanoindentation depend on sorbitol percentage. ▶ The residual sorbitol in the polymer blends played a role of a plasticizer. ▶ Sorbitol reduces the interactions among the macromolecules in the blends.