Synthesis of Superabsorbent Copolymers by Pulsed Corona Discharges in Water

Pulsed corona discharges have been utilized for plasma polymerization in aqueous solution for the first time. Superabsorbent copolymers, i.e., poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels, were synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization using free radicals produced by pulsed corona discharges as initiator and N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide as cross-linking agent. Acrylic acid contents in the monomers varied from 0% to 50%. The copolymers thus formed adsorbed 30–1100 g H₂O/g of copolymer. The FTIR spectra of the copolymers are comparable with the published FTIR spectra of the corresponding copolymers synthesized by a conventional chemical method and by -ray technique.