IPN’s of acrylic acid and N-isopropylacrylamide by gamma and electron beam irradiation

Interpenetrating networks (IPN) of temperature sensitive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and pH sensitive acrylic acid (AAc) monomer were prepared in two consecutive steps. Hydrogels of AAc were synthesized by gamma radiation from a 60Co gamma source and an electron beam from a Van de Graaff accelerator. A second hydrogel of NIPAAm was synthesized within the first AAc hydrogel by polymerization and cross-linking with a redox initiator and cross-linking agent. The thermal and pH sensitivity of the hydrogels were determined by measuring the swelling, and the morphology and composition by SEM.