Abstract

Hydrogel interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(vinyl alcohol)/ acrylic acid using GA and TMPTA or BIS as cross linkers

Author(s): R.K.Wanchoo, Amandeep Kaur, Hema Setia, Anupama Thakur

Hydrogels of Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and interpenetrating polymer networks of PVAandAcrylic acid (AA) were synthesized using Glutraldehyde and Trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA) or N-N’ Methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) as crosslinking agent for PVAandAArespectively. The hydrogels and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs)were characterized by measuring their % swelling, equilibrium volume swelling ratio, number average molecular weight between cross-links, mesh size and compressive strength in buffer solutions of pH 7.4 and pH 3 at 37  1oC. The effect of initial PVA/AAweight ratio, crosslinking ratio and the type of crosslinker for AA(TMPTAor BIS) on the dynamic and equilibrium swelling behavior of the IPNs were investigated. The swelling capabilities of PVA/AAIPNs were found to be higher than PVA hydrogels and the percentage swelling increased with an increase in the AA content in the IPNs.