Dynamic mechanical characterization of hydrogel blends of poly(vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate) with poly(acrylic acid) or poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)

✍ Scribed by J. V. Cauich-Rodriguez; S. Der; R. Smith

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 355 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0957-4530
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00154547

✦ Synopsis

Transparent hydrogels were prepared by blending solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol-vinyl acetate) with either poly(acrylic acid) or poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) in the presence of glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. The network obtained from the poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) system was subjected to various thermal treatments, the effects of which have been studied. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to characterize the hydrogels and to establish the suitability of these blends for use in biomedical applications. The swelling behaviour was followed under dynamic loads as well as by mass difference. Different frequencies were used to study the dynamic properties of the hydrogel blends which showed an increase in storage modulus with increasing frequency. A comparison of modulus values obtained dynamically were in agreement with data obtained mechanically in tension.