Polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer, and water-soluble films and pouches formed therefrom

1. A polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer, comprising the reaction product of (i) a lactone-containing co-polymer formed from vinyl alcohol monomer and carboxylic acid monomer, and (ii) an amino functional reactant, wherein:

(a) the amino functional reactant opens lactone rings of the lactone-containing co-polymer;

(b) the polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer comprises from about 1 mol % to about 6 mol % of the amino functional reactant which is selected from the group consisting of 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, methoxypropylamine, aminoethoxyethanol, aminopropoxypropanol, aminopropoxypropoxyethanol, 3-amino-1,2-propanediol, aminoethylethanolamine, allylamine, 3-aminopropylsulphonate, 3-aminopropylcarboxylate and mixtures thereof; and

(c) the polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer is water-soluble.

2. A water-soluble film comprising the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer according to claim 1 .

3. A water-soluble pouch containing a liquid, wherein the water-soluble pouch is formed of a water-soluble film according to claim 2 .

4. A polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer according to claim 1 , wherein the lactone-containing co-polymer is formed from a dicarboxylic acid.

5. A polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the lactone-containing co-polymer comprises itaconic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, or a mixture thereof.

6. A polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the lactone-containing co-polymer comprises from 0.1 mol % to 30 mol % of the dicarboxylic acid.

7. A polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer according to claim 4 , wherein the lactone-containing co-polymer comprises from 1 mol % to 6 mol % of the dicarboxylic acid.

8. A polyvinyl alcohol co-polymer according to claim 1 wherein, the amino functional reactant is selected from the group consisting of 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, and mixtures thereof.

9. A water-soluble film according to claim 2 wherein the amino functional reactant is selected from the group consisting of 3-dimethylamino)propylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, and mixtures thereof.

10. A water-soluble film according to claim 2 having a thickness of from about 10 to about 200 micrometers.

11. A water-soluble film according to claim 10 having a thickness of from about 40 to about 100 micrometers.

12. A water-soluble pouch according to claim 3 wherein the amino functional reactant is selected from the group consisting of 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, and mixtures thereof.