USES: PVA IS USED AS A STARTING MATERIAL FOR THEPREPARATION OF OTHER RESINS. PVA CAN BE USED AS A COMPONENT OF ELASTOMERS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPONGES. THIS POLYMER IS USED IN SIZING AGENTS THAT CONFER RESISTANCE TO OILS AND GREASES UPON PAPER AND TEXTILES, TO MAKE FILMS RESISTANT TO ATTACK BY SOLVENTS OR OXYGEN. PVA IS USED AS A COMPONENT OF ADHESIVES, EMULSFIERS, SUSPENDING AND THICKENGING AGENTS. IN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, POLYVINYL ALCOHOL IS USED AS A OPHTHALMIC LUBRICANT AND VISCOSITY INCREASING AGENT. IT THICKENS THE NATURAL FILM OF TEARS IN EYES.