Mechanical, thermal and surface properties of polyacrylamide/dextran semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels tuned by the synthesis temperature

Abstract

The mechanical, rheological, thermal, and surface behaviors of three polyacrylamide/dextran (PAAm/Dx) semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels, prepared at 22 C, 5 C and -18 C, were investigated. The results were compared with those obtained on cross-linked PAAm without Dx synthesized under the same conditions. Hydrogels prepared at the lowest temperature were the most mechanically stable. The thermal stability of the semi-IPN hydrogels is slightly lower than the corresponding PAAm gels, irrespective of preparation temperature. The water vapor sorption capacity depended on the presence of Dx as well as preparation temperature, which determines the network morphology. © 2013 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.