Photo and Thermal Degradation of a Cationic Superabsorbent Polymer

摘要

A cationic superabsorbent polymer (SAP) was synthesized by carrying out the polymerization of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl tri-methyl ammonium chloride) with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as the cross-linking agent. The SAP was subjected to degradation in dry and the equilibrium swollen state by thermo gravimetric analysis and exposure to ultraviolet radiation, respectively. The photodegra-dation was monitored by measuring changes in the swelling capacity and the dry weight of the SAP. The thermal degradation of the SAP occurred in three stages after the initial removal of moisture and the activation energies of the decomposition were determined.