Synthesis and characterization of Hydrogels through Graft Copolymerization of Hydrophilic Monomers onto Polymeric films

Abstract

The research work described in the present thesis is an attempt to synthesize mechanically strong hydrogels through graft copolymerization of hydrophilic monomers onto polymeric films. Various techniques of grafting ranging from chemical, radiation and low energy grafting have been used. The prepared grafted hydrogels have been evaluated for their different applications. The thesis is organized in five chapters. newline newlineChapter 1 deals with the general introduction, literature survey on hydrogels, different types of hydrogels, applications of hydrogels, hydrogels on polymeric surface through graft copolymerization, monomer used for the preparation of hydrogels and the techniques used for characterization of hydrogels. newline newlineChapter 2 discusses the formation of grafted membranes prepared through chemical graft copolymerization. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was chemically grafted on isotactic polypropylene film (IPP). The IPP films have been grafted with MMA molecules resulting in IPP-g-MMA grafts using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Using this method, the degree of grafting and morphology could be controlled through the variation of reaction parameters such as initiator concentration, monomer concentration, reaction time, and the reaction temperature...