Colloidal and chemical properties of poly-meric complexes based on polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol have been investigated.
Several factors affecting water absorption by polymeric complexes have been studied: concentration of initial aqueous polymer
solutions; components ratio in the mixture; temperature and duration; sorbed aqueous solutions properties (pH; kind of ions).
Macromolecular globules of polyacrylamide in aqueous solutions upon addition of polyvinyl alcohol exhibit interactions of
hydroxyl and amide groups. The heat treatment of polycomplexes aqueous solutions leads to formation of cross-linked products
(hydrogels) which are not soluble in water and show superabsorbents properties.
Variation of conditions of polycomplex formation allows to regulate the properties of the resulting products such as hydrogel
strength and the water absorption in wide ranges. This gives us possibilities for optimal use of the hydrogels in function
of their specific applications.
Keywords Polymeric complexes - Hydrogels - Rheological properties - Water absorbtion
Received: 17 October 2000 / Reviewed and accepted: 18 October 2000