BENZOPHENONE-INITIATED PHOTO-CROSSLINKING OF PVA COMPOSITIONS AND THE PROPERTIES OF THE OBTAINED HYDROGELS

Authors

  • Vasyl O. Vaskiv Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine
  • Dmytro I. Saiuk Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine
  • Viktor S. Tokarev Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3276-1077

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15421/jchemtech.v34i2.351157

Keywords:

polyvinyl alcohol, benzophenone, functional acrylic monomer, photo-crosslinking, polymer hydrogel composition, swelling kinetics

Abstract

This study aimed to develop photo-crosslinkable hydrogel compositions based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), the photoinitiator benzophenone (BP) and functional acrylic monomers, namely acrylic acid (AA), 2‑hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA). A gradual increase in the content of gel fraction with UV irradiation time was observed for all composite films, indicating progressive crosslinking. PVA compositions with BP and AA, demonstrated the lowest content and the slowest increase in the gel fraction. The addition of MBA resulted in rapid crosslinking and the highest gel fraction content, whereas HEMA-containing compositions required longer irradiation times to achieve comparable levels of crosslinking. Water absorbability depended on both film composition and gel fraction. Films containing BP, AA, and HEMA exhibited the highest water absorbability. Compositions containing BP, AA, and MBA demonstrated the best water resistance, the highest tensile strength and hardness, and the lowest elongation at break, indicating the formation of highly crosslinked hydrogel networks.

 

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Published

2026-06-19

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Chemistry and Technologies

Section

Organic Chemistry

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