Synthesis and characterizatin of poly(itaconic acid-co-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) hydrogels

In this study, the synthesis of pH and temperature sensitive poly(itaconic acid-co-N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) hydrogels were carried out and the swelling and diffusion behaviour of this gels were studied.Hydrogels were synthesized in polypropylene tubes with 3mm diameter at 40 ? C by using ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker and ammonium persulphate (APS) as initator. The synthesized hydrogels were washed and dried under vacuum at 40 ? C and then characterized.In characterization part, firstly the swelling behaviour of hydrogels in water were investigated. Then the effect of pH, temperature, amount of crosslinker, composition of the gel and the syntheis period on swelling behaviour were studied. The results were showed that the synthesis period has no affect on swelling capacity, the absorption capacity of the gel were decreased by increasing of the temperature and the hydrogel has the highest capacity at neutral or weak basic medium.Finally the diffusion characteristics of the hydrogels were studied and the results showed that the diffusion is non-Fickian.