Mechanical and Thermal Characteristics of Irradiation Cross-linked Hydrogels

This paper reports mechanical properties and thermal stability of the PVA hydrogels. An electron beam radiation method was used for polymer cross-linking. Hydrogels were prepared at various polymer concentrations. Mechanical and thermal properties were analyzed. It was shown that efficiency of the irradiation was depending on initial polymer concentration. Analysis of values of elastic module E, elastic limit σЕ, and yield point σT has proved the effect of a number of cross-links and hydrogen bonds in sample structure on mechanical properties of hydrogels. TGA analysis demonstrates the enhancement of the thermal resistance of hydrogels with increasing of PVA concentration. DSC data revealed the difference in the region of melting and crystallization of crystalline domains for studied samples. The highest crystallization ability was registered for the sample with lowest cross-link density.