Polyvinylpyrrolidone / Povidone grades K12–K90 for pharmaceutical, personal care, adhesive, coating and industrial formulations.
Unilong supplies PVP K Series grades from K12 to K90 for pharmaceutical formulation, personal care, adhesives, coatings and other industrial applications. Buyers can select a grade according to required solution viscosity, binding performance, film formation and processing conditions.
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), also known as Povidone, is a nonionic, water-soluble polymer supplied in different K-value grades. The K-value is used to distinguish PVP grades and is related to polymer molecular size and solution viscosity.
Unilong’s PVP K Series includes K12, K15, K17, K25, K30, K60 and K90, covering low- to high-viscosity grades for different formulation and processing requirements.
Lower K-value grades generally produce lower solution viscosity, while higher K-value grades provide higher viscosity and stronger binding or film-forming characteristics. The appropriate grade depends on the application, concentration, solvent system and target formulation properties.
For general background on the polymer, see
What Is Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
.
This page focuses on PVP K Series grade selection, specifications, documentation and procurement.
The following K-value ranges are based on Unilong’s existing PVP K Series specification. Relative viscosity and selection descriptions are intended as practical grade-selection guidance rather than guaranteed formulation performance.
| Grade | K-Value | Relative Viscosity | Selection Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVP K12 | 10.2–13.8 | Low | Lowest-viscosity grade in the current series |
| PVP K15 | 12.75–17.25 | Low | Low-viscosity formulations |
| PVP K17 | 15.3–18.36 | Low | Low-viscosity formulations |
| PVP K25 | 22.5–27.0 | Medium | Moderate viscosity and binding |
| PVP K30 | 27–32.4 | Medium | General-purpose medium K-value grade |
| PVP K60 | 54–64.8 | High | Higher viscosity and binding |
| PVP K90 | 81–97.2 | Very high | High viscosity and stronger binding / film formation |
PVP grade selection usually starts with the viscosity and functional performance required in the formulation.
For development work, adjacent or functionally relevant grades can be compared. K25 and K30 may be evaluated where medium viscosity is required, while K60 and K90 may be compared for higher-viscosity or stronger-binding systems.
For grade evaluation, provide the application, solvent system, concentration range and target viscosity when requesting technical support.
K-value is one of the main parameters used to distinguish PVP grades. In general, solution viscosity increases as K-value and polymer concentration increase.
The following parameters are based on Unilong’s existing PVP K Series specification. For batch-specific results, request the COA for the grade being evaluated.
| Parameter | K12 | K15 | K17 | K25 | K30 | K60 | K90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-Value | 10.2–13.8 | 12.75–17.25 | 15.3–18.36 | 22.5–27.0 | 27–32.4 | 54–64.8 | 81–97.2 |
| pH, 5% aqueous solution | 3.0–5.0 | 3.0–5.0 | 3.0–5.0 | 3.0–5.0 | 3.0–5.0 | 4.0–7.0 | 4.0–7.0 |
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White powder |
| Content | ≥95% |
| Water | ≤5.0% |
| Single impurity (Impurity A), CP2005/USP26 reference | ≤0.1% |
| Impurity, USP31/EP6/BP2007 reference | ≤10 ppm |
| Sulfated ash | ≤0.1% |
| Nitrogen content | 11.5–12.8% |
| 2-Pyrrolidone | ≤3.0% |
| Aldehyde | ≤500 ppm |
| Heavy metals | ≤10 ppm |
| Hydrazine | ≤1 ppm |
| Hydrogen peroxide | ≤400 ppm |
PVP grade selection should consider both the target industry and the functional role required in the formulation. Binding, film formation, dispersion, stabilization and viscosity requirements can lead to different K-value selections.
PVP is evaluated across pharmaceutical, personal care, adhesive, coating, ink and other industrial formulations according to the function required from the polymer.
For additional background on common PVP application fields, see
what polyvinylpyrrolidone is used for
.
Povidone is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations as a binder, film former, solubilizing aid, dispersing aid and viscosity modifier.
Medium K-value grades such as PVP K25 and K30 are commonly evaluated for soluble binding applications, while higher K-value grades can provide stronger binding and higher viscosity.
PVP is used in personal care formulations as a film former, binder, dispersant and stabilizing polymer.
Grade selection depends on the desired formulation viscosity and film characteristics. Medium and higher K-value grades may be evaluated where different levels of film formation and viscosity are required.
PVP can provide binding, adhesion and film-forming properties in water-based and remoistenable adhesive systems. Medium grades can be considered where manageable processing viscosity is required, while higher K-value grades may be evaluated where greater viscosity or cohesive film strength is desired.
In coating and ink formulations, PVP can function as a dispersing, stabilizing and film-forming polymer. Grade selection depends on pigment loading, solvent system, required viscosity and coating process.
PVP is also used in industrial formulations that require a water-soluble binder, dispersant, stabilizer or film-forming polymer.
It may also be evaluated in polymer membrane processing, where grade and physical form should be selected according to the casting system and processing requirements.
Unilong supports purchasing and incoming quality review with product and batch documentation for PVP K Series.
If documentation for another grade is required, specify the grade and document type in the inquiry so availability can be confirmed before ordering. Batch documentation can be used by procurement and QA teams to support incoming QC and lot-to-lot review.
Regulatory requirements vary by grade, application and destination market.
If your purchasing specification requires REACH/SVHC information, pharmacopoeial documentation or another market-specific statement, include the exact requirement in the RFQ so the applicable documentation and product status can be confirmed.
USP/NF, EP / Ph. Eur., BP, JP and application-specific product status should be confirmed against documentation for the individual supplied grade rather than assumed from general PVP industry use.
If the intended application requires pharmaceutical, food-related or cosmetic-use documentation, state the requirement during supplier qualification.
| Packaging | Container Loading |
|---|---|
| 25 kg/drum | Approximately 9 tons per 20′ container |
| 25 kg/bag | Approximately 20 tons per 20′ container |
If an alternative packaging configuration is required, include the requirement in the inquiry so availability can be confirmed.
PVP powder is hygroscopic.
For PVP K Series sourcing, provide the required grade or grades, intended application, target quantity, packaging requirement, destination and required documentation.
If grade selection is still under evaluation, also provide the solvent system, concentration range and target viscosity. For initial testing, include the required grade and sample requirement so current sample availability, quantity and conditions can be confirmed.
Send the required PVP grade, application, quantity, destination and documentation requirements for review. Unilong can provide the corresponding specification and sourcing information.
