Hamid Reza Norouzi - Chemical Engineering Group, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, I. R. Iran
Saba Sharafoddinzadeh - Chemical Engineering Group, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, I. R. Iran
Abolfazl Barati - Chemical Engineering Group, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, I. R. Iran

Cationic hydrophilic hydrogels based on acrylamide as the base monomer were synthesized by free radical polymerization. Methacrylamido propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC) and N,N’-methylene-bis-acrylamide (Bis) was used as the cationic and the cross-linking agent, respectively. The effect of changing in total monomer concentration and the cross-linking agent density on the swelling behaviour were studied. “Short Time Approximation Method” was used in order to determine the diffusion coefficient. In addition, kinetic constant of diffusion and the swelling exponent were calculated. The swelling mechanism follows non-Fickian characteristics. The anomalous behaviour increases as the amount of cross-linking agent increases. The diffusion coefficient of the solvent into the network decreases by increasing the amount of cross-linking agent and total monomer concentration as well. There is a good agreement between the experimental data and the applied swelling rate model.

Cationic Hydrogels, Kinetic, Modelling, Swelling Mechanism