Study of the effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) concentration on the gelation point of poly(vinyl alcohol) poly(acrylic acid) semi-IPN systems as determined by viscoelastic measurements

We report on the determination of the gelation point of semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) formed by a sequential method. The evolution of the viscoelasticity during the gelation reaction of acrylic acid (AAc) in solutions of PVA has been monitored through the sol-gel transition with dynamic mechanical experiments. The gelation time of the system increased with PVA concentration; however, the molecular structure of the gel, composed of swollen clusters, is rather independent of the presence of PVA. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.