Preparation and characterization of polyacrylamide-silver nanocomposites

Polyacrylamide-silver nanocomposites are successfully prepared by irradiating the aqueous solution of AgNO3 and acrylamide monomer with 60Co γ-ray. The composites are found to contain nanometer silver particles with a narrow size distribution and a homogeneous dispersion. The existing of isopropanol (as a hydroxyl radical scavenger and chain transfer agent) in system affects the properties of both the dispersed phase and matrix of the nanocomposites. The fast-formed polymer chains probably play a key role in preventing the aggregation of silver particles which are reduced later