RADIATION-INDUCED GRAFT-COPOLYMERIZATION OF 2-HYDROXYETHYL-METHACRYLATE ONTO CHLOROPRENE RUBBER MEMBRANE - II - CHARACTERIZATION OF GRAFTING COPOLYMER

The cobalt-60 radiation-induced graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyeth yl methacrylate (HEMA) onto a chloroprene rubber (CR) membrane has bee n studied in ethanol. The structure, morphology, crystallinity, therma l stability, and hydrophility of graft copolymer were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy, scann ing electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential th ermal gravimetric analysis, and contact angle test methods, respective ly. The permeabilities of urea, creatinine, and creatine through the C R and CR-g-HEMA membranes are investigated in a dialysis cell, and the permeation mechanism is also discussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, I nc.