Melt processable poly (vinyl alcohol) blends and poly (vinyl alcohol) based membranes

1. A melt-processable polymer blend comprising:

a first polymer blend comprising a first polymer including poly(vinyl alcohol) and a second polymer including 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate; and

a third polymer selected to provide post melt processing flexibility to the polymer blend, wherein a melt viscosity ratio of the first polymer blend to the third polymer is selected to render the melt-processable polymer blend a co-continuous phase structure upon melt processing.

2. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the third polymer comprises at least one of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer, a polyolefin polymer, a nylon or a polyester.

3. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 2 , wherein the polyolefin polymer comprises at least one of a polyethylene polymer or a polypropylene polymer.

4. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the second polymer comprises the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a linear acrylic polymer.

5. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the second polymer comprises the 2-glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate incorporated in a core-shell acrylic polymer.

6. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 1 , wherein the melt viscosity ratio is a first melt viscosity of the first polymer blend to a second melt viscosity of the third polymer.

7. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 6 , wherein a volume ratio of the first polymer blend to the third polymer is a first volume fraction of the first polymer blend to a second volume fraction of the third polymer.

8. The melt-processable polymer blend of claim 7 , wherein the volume ratio is substantially equal to the viscosity ratio.