PVA Water-Soluble Film Testing Guide: Five Key Indicators to Evaluate Product Quality

As laundry pods, dishwasher tablets, agrochemical packaging, and other PVA-film-based products continue to grow rapidly worldwide, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) water-soluble film has become the industry’s preferred material thanks to its biodegradability, complete solubility, and environmental safety.

To accurately evaluate the quality of any PVA film, standardized and scientific testing is essential.

As a company specializing in the R&D and manufacturing of water-soluble films, Polyva Environmental Materials Co., Ltd. has long provided global clients with professional testing support and technical standards. Below are the five core parameters that directly affect product performance.

1. Thickness — The Fundamental Parameter for Strength & Solubility

Test: Measure the thickness of the PVA film
Instrument: Thickness gauge

Film thickness directly affects:

Mechanical strength

Stiffness

Dissolution rate

Application compatibility

Typical examples:

Laundry pods: 55–75 μm

Agrochemical packaging: higher thickness for greater load-bearing capacity

Polyva strictly follows thickness-uniformity control standards to ensure every batch of film meets reliable production requirements.

2. Disintegration Time — When the Film Starts to Break in Water

Test: Time required for the film to begin disintegrating in 24°C water
Instrument: Stopwatch

Disintegration time indicates the film’s sensitivity to water and varies by application:

Laundry pods: must break quickly during a wash cycle

Agrochemical packaging: must crack open within a controlled timeframe for safe release

Polyva’s technical team adjusts disintegration performance based on customer needs, including cold-water, warm-water, or special-purpose dissolution settings.

3. Dissolution Time — Time to Fully Dissolve

Test: Total time for the film to completely dissolve at 24°C
Instrument: Stopwatch

Dissolution performance greatly impacts product usability:

Home care products: faster dissolution minimizes residue

Industrial cleaning: dissolution can be tailored for rapid or slow release depending on chemical requirements

Polyva uses high-purity PVA raw materials, ensuring superior transparency, solubility, and residue control.

4. Tensile Strength — Evaluating Load-Bearing Capability

Formula:
Tensile strength (MPa) = Breaking force (N) ÷ (Thickness mm × Width mm)
Instrument: Tensile testing machine

Tensile strength reflects the mechanical durability of the film—critical for:

Transportation

Packaging processes

Automatic filling applications

Higher tensile strength equals better durability and tear resistance.

Through precise formulation and stretching technology, Polyva produces films suitable for high-speed packaging equipment.

5. Elongation at Break — A Key Indicator of Flexibility

Calculation:
Elongation (%) = (Length at break ÷ Original length) × 100%
Instrument: Tensile testing machine

A higher elongation rate means better flexibility and improved resistance to tearing.

For laundry pods and automated packaging machines, suitable elongation helps prevent:

Film bursting during filling

Film breakage during transport

Polyva controls molecular structure and moisture content to deliver optimal flexibility and stability.

Conclusion: Scientific Testing Ensures More Reliable PVA Films

The quality of PVA water-soluble film cannot be judged by appearance alone. Scientific evaluation requires analyzing key parameters such as:

Thickness

Disintegration time

Dissolution time

Tensile strength

Elongation at break

As an industry-focused manufacturer, Polyva Environmental Materials Co., Ltd. not only supplies high-quality PVA films but also provides customers with comprehensive testing solutions, technical support, and fully customized services.

If you need:

✔ PVA films for laundry pods
✔ Agrochemical water-soluble packaging
✔ Industrial application films
✔ Customized dissolution speed or thickness

Polyva offers complete one-stop solutions.

https://www.polyva-machine.com/

Email: eunice@polyva.cn  |  WhatsApp: +86 19330232910