STUDY OF POLYACRYLATE SYSTEMS BY ATTENUATED TOTAL REFLECTION INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY
Samples of sodium polyacrylate obtained by varying the degree of acrylic acid (AA) neutralisation and a cross-linking agent were studied by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR). The degree of AA neutralisation (up to 50% and higher), predetermining the presence of two structurally different hydrogel systems, is manifested through the extreme nature of the change in the optical properties and swelling curves of the samples. The amount of binder affects the degree of swelling and the density of the shape of the swollen polymer.