Characterization of interpenetrating networks of acrylic acid (AAc) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) synthesized by ionizing radiation

Interpenetrating networks of poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) were synthesized in two consecutive steps utilizing ionizing radiation in the first step and chemical reaction in the second step. The first network of PAAc hydrogel was formed by ionizing radiation (gamma or electron beam). The secondary gel of PNIPAAm was synthesized directly within the primary gel of PAAc from an aqueous solution of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) containing a crosslinking agent, accelerator and redox initiator. The interpenetrating networks (IPNs) were characterized morphologically by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their thermal behavior was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA).