Influence of strain on dynamic viscoelastic properties of swelled (H<inf>2</inf>O) and biomineralized (CaCO<inf>3</inf>) PVP-CMC hydrogels

Abstract

This paper reports the rheological behavior of swelled and mineralized hydrogel prepared using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel as base polymer. Herein, the bio-mineral calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was incorporated into the hydrogel using simple liquid diffusion method. The morphology of the swelled and mineralized hydrogel was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. Further, the normalized time of absorptivity was identified from the time dependent absorptivity behavior of calcite and water filled PVP-CMC hydrogel. The effect of the biomineral (CaCO3) and water on the dynamic viscoelastic properties, after penetrating inside the hydrogel matrix has been evaluated. The frequency sweep at 1 and 10 % strain and also strain sweep measurement were performed to determine the frequency and strain dependent viscoelastic moduli G' and G" of both swelled and mineralized hydrogel. At higher strain the both moduli showed significant change over wide range of angular frequency region and the nature of mineralized polymer composites (MPC) turned from elastic to viscous. Based on the observed basic properties, MPC (calcite based polymer composites) can be recommended for the treatment of adyanamic bone disorder and water swelled hydrogel can be acclaimed as a scaffold for burned wound dressing. © Applied Rheology.