Change in the Morphology and Properties of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Cryogels Depending on the Annealing Temperature

The effect of thermal prehistory and mechanical field on the morphology and physicomechanical and thermal properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels has been studied. Using the methods of rheometry, DSC, and X-day diffraction analysis it is revealed that an increase in the heat treatment temperature of cryogels causes a rise of the melting temperature and a change in the crystallinity of PVA cryogels, as is typical for the annealing phenomenon. It is established that the annealing of PVA cryogels formed under repeated freezing with simultaneous forced compression contributes to the formation of cryogels with the spatial network being stable up to the onset of solvent boiling.