Acrylamide/maleic acid hydrogels

Acrylamide/maleic acid hydrogels in the form of rods were prepared by γ‐irradiating ternary mixtures of acrylamide–maleic acid–water with 2.00–5.71 kGy γ‐rays. The influence of dose and relative content of maleic acid on the spectroscopic, thermal and mechanical properties, swelling properties, diffusional behavior of water and diffusion coefficients of hydrogel systems are examined. Acrylamide/maleic acid hydrogels were swelled in the range of 1000–2800%, While polyacrylamide hydrogels were swelled in the range of 650–700%. Water diffusion to hydrogels in non‐Fickian type diffusion. The diffusion coefficients varied from 4.5 × 10−2 to 12.2 × 10−7 cm2 sec−1.