Radiation-chemical synthesis of crown-containing poly(ethylene oxide) hydrogels. Swelling behavior and crown ether retention

Poly(ethylene oxide) hydrogels containing physically immobilized dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6) were synthesized by radiation-chemical cross-linking. DCH18C6 concentration in initial polymer solution has insignificant effect on the gelation dose at the weight ratio of crown ether to polymer lower than 0.2. The higher molecular weight of PEO results in lower gelation dose and higher gel fraction. An increase in absorbed dose leads to a noticeable decrease in the swelling ratio corresponding to a denser hydrogel network. At the same time the absorbed dose in the range of 5–100 kGy has no pronounced effect on the DCH18C6 retention.