Abstract
Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymer chains. Hydrogels can absorb/desorb water and hydrophilic solutes. This behavior is called swelling/shrinking, as it is accompanied by a volume change. The amounts of absorbed substances depend on the structure of the hydrogel and the composition of the coexisting liquid phase. This paper deals with experimental investigations of the swelling behavior of nonionic, chemically crosslinked, synthetic hydrogels of N-isopropyl acrylamide. The swelling equilibrium of some hydrogels in aqueous solutions of sodium chloride was investigated at 298 K. The experimental results are presented, discussed and correlated/predicted with a thermodynamic model which combines an expression for the Gibbs energy of a liquid phase with an expression for the Helmholtz energy of an elastic network.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
