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Title
Polyacrylamide-dextran polymeric networks: Effect of gel preparation temperature on their morphology and swelling properties
Authors
Maria Valentina Dinu Maria Marinela Perju Maria Cazacu and Ecaterina Stela Dragan
Received
November 9, 2010
Published
Volume 45 Issue 3-4 March-April
Keywords
dextran, polyacrylamide, porosity, semi-IPN hydrogels, swelling kinetics
Abstract
The study discusses the synthesis of polyacrylamide-dextran (PAAm/Dx) polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels, as well as the porosity and swelling capacity of these materials as a function of gel preparation temperature. The hydrogels were cross-linked with N,N’-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BAAm) and synthesized by radical polymerization at three temperatures, i.e. +25, +5 and -18 °C. From the weight and volume swelling ratios of hydrogels, the swollen-state porosity of the networks was estimated. The observed swollen-state porosity was about 30% for the hydrogels formed at T = +25 and +5 °C, rapidly increasing prep to 94%, with decreasing the gel preparation temperature at T = -18 °C for the PAAm/Dx semi-IPN prep hydrogel. By conducting the cross-linking polymerization reaction at -18 °C, PAAm/Dx semi-IPNs with a superfast responsive rate (15 s) were obtained.
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