Characterization of superabsorbent carboxymethylcellulose/clay hydrogel prepared by electron beam irradiation

Hydrogels for this study were prepared from a mixture of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and different concentration of clay using freezing and thawing cycles followed by electron beam irradiation. The introduction of montmorillonite (MMT) up to 4% leads to an increase in the gel fraction and an improvement in water resistance indicating that the clay is well dispersed within the polymer matrix. Their swelling (%) of the hydrogel in distilled water and different physiological fluids, such as physiological saline water and synthetic urine, were evaluated. These results suggest that the maximum swelling (%) in water reached 3559% compared to the dry hydrogels but still maintained its steady appearance. Moreover, the hydrogels exhibited smart swelling and shrinking in NaCl and synthetic urine. The surface morphology and thermal properties of these hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ability of the prepared hydrogel to absorb and retain a large amount of water and simulated urine was measured. The results suggested the possible use of CMC/MMT composite hydrogels in the personal care product industry.