摘要 |
<p>This invention provides reinforced composite structures composed of a matrix and a dispersed phase, where the matrix is a hydrogel containing water and a solubilized vinyl alcohol homopolymer, the dispersed phase contains a plurality of uniformly distributed acicular regions comprising fibrils formed from a highly oriented crystalline vinyl alcohol polymer, where the diameter of the said fibrils is less than 1 millimeter, the aspect ratio of the fibrils is from 2:1 to 1000:1 and where the composite is characterized by a gradual transition in the degree of crystallinity at the interfaces between the matrix and the fibrils.</p> |