Radiation-grafting of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto silicone rubber

• EGDMA/GMA onto SR were obtained by direct gamma-radiation and the chemical method.
• Grafting of SR-g-(EGDMA/GMA) depends on dose, temperature, and monomer concentration.
• SR-g-(EGDMA/GMA) may be suitable for development of the immobilization of enzymes.

Silicone rubber (SR) was modified with a graft of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) using either gamma-radiation or azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The graft efficiency was evaluated as a function of monomer concentration, absorbed dose, reaction temperature, and concentration of AIBN. The hydrophilicity of the grafted films was measured by contact angle and their equilibrium swelling time in ethanol. Additional characterization by infrared (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is also reported.