Water sorption through a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) with hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains

Dynamics of water uptake by semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) o f poly(acrylamide-co-styrene) and poly(vinyl alcohol) were investigated at room temperature (27 +/-0.2 degreesC) and constant pH. The nature of the sw elling process of the IPN was investigated in light of the Fickian transpor t and the effects of varying experimental conditions such as the change in the composition of the IPN, pH and ionic strength of the swelling medium we re studied on the swelling kinetics of the IPN. The networks obtained were also characterized by IR spectral analysis and the molecular weight between crosslinks (M-c) and crosslink density (q) of the networks were evaluated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.