Synthesis and swelling kinetics of poly(dimethylaminoethyl acrylate methylchloride quaternary-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels

Hydrogels of dimethylaminoethyl acrylate methyl chloride quaternary and ita conic acid have been synthesized with different monomer ratios. The swellin g process of the different xerogels immersed in water was monitored by the weight increase as a function of time. The swelling isotherms consisted of a steep initial. portion and leveled off asymptotically to the equilibrium swelling limit. The experimental data suggest clearly that the swelling pro cess obeys second-order kinetics. The rate constant and the equilibrium wat er content were determined for every monomer ratio from the experimental st raight lines obtained according to the kinetics equation. Both magnitudes d ecreased as the itaconic acid content in the xerogel increased.