Ionizing radiation in the field of hydrogels used for agriculture and medicine

Some hydrogel types, obtained by gamma ray and electron beam irradiation, s uch as homo-polymers of acrylamide (pAA type), co-polymers of acrylamide an d sodium acrylate (pAANA type), home-polymers of sodium acrylate (pNA type) and homo-polymers of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (pHEMA type), are presente d. The effects of the solution's chemical composition, swelling medium natu re, radiation absorbed dose and radiation absorbed dose rate upon the swell ing degree and mechanical strength of pAA, pAANA, pNA types are discussed. For the pHEMA type, which are reinforced in the polyester network, the stud ies concerning the influence of the irradiation parameters and chemical com position upon the shape stability after swelling and surface's roughness ar e also discussed.