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Syntheses of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate hydrogels in Na 2 CO 3 aqueous solutions with electron‐beam irradiation
Author(s) -
Xu Ling,
Nagasawa Naotsugu,
Yoshii Fumio,
Kume Tamikazu
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.12370
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , swelling , aqueous solution , materials science , polymer chemistry , ionic strength , nuclear chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
Novel cellulose ether hydrogels were prepared by the radiation‐induced crosslinking of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) in a solution of Na 2 CO 3 . The effects of several factors, such as the HPMCP concentration, Na 2 CO 3 concentration, absorbed dose, and dose rate, on the crosslinking of HPMCP were investigated in detail. An increase in the HPMCP concentration resulted in an increasing content of the gel fraction, and this meant that the crosslinking probability increased as well. Na 2 CO 3 was essential for dissolving HPMCP in water, and a 4–5% Na 2 CO 3 aqueous solution was optimal for the crosslinking of HPMCP. The dose rate also affected the radiation crosslinking of HPMCP; hydrogels with higher gel fractions and transparency could be formed at lower dose rates. The ratio of degradation to crosslinking of the gel was calculated according to the Charlesby–Rosiak equation, and it showed good agreement with the experimental results. Some important properties, such as the swelling kinetics, ion and ionic strength dependence, and pH dependence, of the HPMCP hydrogels were also investigated. The HPMCP hydrogels possessed excellent swelling rates and swelling ratios in some solvents, such as water and methanol, with a high hydrogen‐bonding parameter. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2123–2130, 2003