WATER-SWELLABLE RUBBERS CONTAINING POWDERY POLY(ACRYLAMIDE) HYDROGEL

Hydrophilic composite materials were prepared by combining powdery pol y(acrylamide) hydrogel with various technical rubbers (natural rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, EPDM rubber). The dependence of the quality of th e dispersions of powdery hydrogel in rubbers on the method of dispersi on was studied and properties (swelling capacity in water, mechanical characteristics) of the composites were measured. The natural rubber/h ydrogel composites showed the best swellability (>80 vol.-%). The mech anical properties of the composites are comparable to those of the unm odified rubbers, both in the dry and water-swollen state.