ELECTROKINETICS OF THE CONTRACTION OF A POLYELECTROLYTE HYDROGEL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CONSTANT ELECTRIC-CURRENT

The kinetics of the contraction of a highly swollen polyelectrolyte hy drogel under the influence of electric current was investigated. From the results obtained, different mechanisms of the contraction may be s upposed to predominate for different degrees of swelling. In the case of a rather small contraction, it depends only on the magnitude of ele ctric charge transported through the sample and is described by the Fa raday law with the correction coefficient. The second mechanism may be connected with electro-osmotic release of water.