QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS ON SWELLING BEHAVIOR OF HSMA PVA IPN IONIC GELS UNDER ELECTRIC-FIELD

Abstract

In order to explain the electric response of HSMA/PVA IPN ionic gel, polyion concentration (f) and/or interaction parameter (chi(ij)) between gel and water are used, which were previously determined elsewhere by comparing swelling behaviours in the mixed solvents with Tanaka's theory [1]. Ionic polymer gel separated from the electrodes exhibits exponential responses when the electric field is applied or stopped, where the characteristic times for swelling and shrinking and equilibrium swelling ratio are successfully correlated with polyion concentration or interaction parameter. In addition, the strength of field is also an important factor to determine the overall responses. The direction of gel with respect to the electric field is also considered and optimum size was apparent to show maximum swelling.