Super water-retainer hydrogels: Crosslinked acrylamide/succinic acid copolymers

Abstract

Super water-retainer hydrogels in the rod form were prepared by copolymerization of acrylamide and succinic acid monomers with γ radiation. Swelling took place in water at 25°C and was followed by weighing. The influence of dose and relative content of succinic acid on the swelling properties, diffusional behavior of water, diffusion coefficients and network properties of hydrogel systems were examined. Acrylamide/succinic acid hydrogels were swollen in the range of 750-960%, while polyacrylamide hydrogels at 650-700%. Water diffusion into hydrogels was non-Fickian type diffusion. Diffusion coefficients of acrylamide/succinic acid hydrogels were calculated by the short time approximation as 4.6× 10-7-7.9×10-7cm2s-1.