Electrical Activation of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) / Chitosan Hydrogels

Chitosan was synthesized from squid pen and was characterized using FT-IR. The average molecular weight of the synthesized chitosan was estimated by viscometry. Poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/ chitosan hydrogels, at various compositions, were prepared by semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) technique. 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPAP) and acryloyl chloride were used as an initiator and crosslinker, respectively. Equilibrium water content (%EWC) of the polymer hydrogels was in the range of 27-45%. The electrical response of the polymer hydrogels, immersed in various concentrations of NaCl solutions, was also investigated. With the application of a 15-volt-electric field, the polymer hydrogels bent toward cathode and turned to the opposite direction when the electrical stimulus was removed. The electrical sensitive behavior of the hydrogels at various compositions was also discussed.

Keywords: polymer hydrogel, interpenetrating polymer networks, electrical sensitive behavior.

Corresponding author: E-mail: kaewpiro@buu.ac.th