Abstract

Acrylamide-Potassium Methacrylate Superabsorbent Copolymers: Synthesis, Swelling Kinetics And Effect Of Reaction Parameters On Swelling Behaviour

Author(s): K.Mohana Raju, Y.Murali Mohan, P.S.Keshava Murthy and B.Sreedhar

A series of superabsorbent copolymers based on acrylamide, potassium methacrylate were synthesized by simultaneous free radical aqueous polymerization using diallyl phthalate (DP) and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA), ammonium persulfate (APS), N,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as crosslinkers, initiator and activators, respectively. The influence of reaction parameters such as AAM/KMA ratio, crosslinker, initiator, activator concentrations and polymerization temperature on the swelling behaviour was investigated. The swelling kinetics of the copolymers was studied at different temperatures The swelling studies revealed that DP crosslinked superabsorbent copolymers have shown higher swelling capacity in all compositions than the MBA crosslinked superabsorbent copolymers. In the present investigation, two different crosslinking agents were employed to study their influence on swelling capacity. The effect of crosslinker concentration on morphology of the copolymers also supports the swelling studies. In addition the salt sensitivity of the copolymers was observed at different crosslinker concentrations. To attain maximum swelling capacity to the AAM-KMA copolymers optimization of reaction conditions were investigated. The copolymers de-swelling as well as pH effect on the copolymers were also studied in detail. ï›™ 2006 Trade Science Inc. - INDIA