Graft polymerization of acrylamide on chitosan: Copolymer structure and properties

Abstract

Graft copolymers have been prepared through the free-radical polymerization of acrylamide in water-acetic acid solutions of chitosan in the presence of ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The effect of temperature, pH of a medium, and concentrations of initiator, chitosan, and acrylamide on the grafting kinetics and efficiency has been established. The local concentration of acrylamide in the reaction zone increases due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding between polysaccharide and monomer molecules. Copolymer films are characterized by better mechanical properties compared to those of polysaccharide. Hydrogels with good viscoelastic properties have been obtained when grafting was performed in the presence of N,N-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent.