Synthesis and Characterization of TiO2 Co-Polymeric Hydrogel

Abstract

In this study, TiO2 doped acrylic acid-co-vinyl pyrrolidone (AA-co-VP) composite co-polymeric hydrogel was synthesized by free radical polymerization technique. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) were chosen because of its superior properties such as high activity, chemical stability, low cost, non-toxicity, and stability during irradiation. TiO2 doping were carried out by varying mass ratios as 0.05%, 0.5% and 1%. Conversion, cross-linking and swelling values of each hydrogel were calculated. According to swelling behavior, while TiO2 dope ratio increase, swelling value was also increased. Chemical, morphological and thermal properties of hydrogels were specified by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), mapping and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DSC) techniques. TiO2 doping provides superior properties to co-polymeric hydrogel. Hydrogels have also characteristic properties of both acrylic acid and vinyl pyrrolidone.