The Effect Of Polyethylene Glycol On The Characteristics Of Polyethylene Oxide-Carrageenan Hydrogel Prepared By Irradiation

In the purpose to develop the application of irradiation for processing natural polymers, the synthesis of polyethylene oxide (PEO)-carrageenan hydrogel by using electron beam machine a study on the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on its physico-chemical properties have been carried out. PEO solution its 2 % (w/w) was mixed with carrageenan solution of 2 % (w/w), then the PEG solution of 0.1 : 0.3; 0.5 ; and 0.7 % w/w, respectively were added. The mixture was stir until homogen, then heating at 80OC for 1 hr. Finally, the mixtures were poured into plastic film packaging (1Ox1Ox 0,2) cm3, and then irradiated by electron beam machine at the doses of 0; 10;20;30; and 40 kGy (dose rate 10 kGy/pass). The physico-chemical properties of the hydrogel such as ; gel fraction, water adsorption, water loss, and tensile strength were observed. After evaluation it was found that with increasing irradiation dose, the gel fraction of the hydrogel increases. In contrast, with increasing PEG concentration, the gel fraction decreases. With increasing PEG concentration, the ability of hydrogel to adsorb and to reduce water evaporation increases. Tensile strength increases with irradiation dose up to 40 kGy. From their appearances, the PEO-carrageenan blend hydrogel can be suitable for wound dressing