TMA measurement of swelling behavior of polysaccharide hydrogels

Swelling of polymer hydrogels is measured as a function of time using a new ly designed sample cell attached to Thermomechanical analysis (TMA). In ord er to examine the performance of the TMA sample holder, Ca alginate dry fil m was used as a sample and measurement conditions of dynamic swelling of wa ter were examined. Swelling ratio under various loading conditions was obse rved as a function of time. A master curve was obtained using zero loading conditions using extrapolated values of dynamic data obtained under various loadings. Swelling ratio measured by TMA at equilibrium condition accords well with swelling ratio obtained by static measurement. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.