Synthesis and Charaterization of Superabsorbent Poly(acrylamide-coacrylic Acid) Hydrogels by Irradiation Technique

A series of superabsorbent hydrogels were successfully prepared from acrylamide (AAM) and acrylic acid (AA) without partial neutralized with NaOH by gamma irradiation technique at room temperature. The copolymers were characterized by Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR) Spectroscopy. The gel fraction, swelling kinetics and the equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) were studied. Under optimum conditions (dose 20 kGy and concentration of AA 0.75 %), poly(AAM-co-AA) hydrogel with high gel fraction (~100%) and very high EDS (~350 g/g) were prepared by gamma ray radiolitycally from aqueous solution. The effect of ionic solution of NaCl and temperature were also investigated. The hydrogels were found to be sensitive to ionic strength of the medium and temperature. It is suggested that poly(AAM—co-AA) hydrogel can be considered to be candidate as biomaterials, matrixs for drug delivery system and water retention in horticulture