Microwave radiation induced synthesis of Gum ghatti and acrylamide based crosslinked network and evaluation of its thermal and electrical behavior

Hemant Mittal, Balbir Singh Ka

Abstract

Microwave radiation induced crosslinked network of Gum ghatti –acrylamide was synthesized using N, N’-methyene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) and potassium persulphate-ascorbic acid as a crosslinker-initiator system. Various reaction parameters like reaction time, amount of solvent, pH of medium, initiator ratio, microwave power, monomer and crosslinker concentrations were optimized so as to get the candidate polymer with maximum water absorption capacity (2010%). Effect of electrical field stimulus on the percentage deswelling of the candidate polymer was studied as a function of time of current flow and applied voltage. It was found that the candidate polymer exhibited maximum deswelling (57.47%) at 80V at a time interval of 6 min under the influence of DC field. Whereas, in case of AC electric field stimulus maximum percent deswelling (71.59%) was observed at 90V at a time interval of 6 min. Moreover, the crosslinked product was found to be thermally more stable than the backbone. Characterization was carried-out using different techniques like FTIR, SEM, XRD and TGA/DTA/DTG