Synthesis, characterization and swelling investigations of novel polyetheramine-based hydrogels

Novel polyetheramine-based hydrogels have been synthesized by reacting difunctional Jeffamine of varying molecular weights (ED600, ED900 and ED2003) with glutaraldehyde (GA) in the presence of trifunctional Jeffamine (T403) as a crosslinker. The prepared hydrogels were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Network properties of the hydrogels were evaluated via swelling investigations. Higher molecular weight of Jeffamine generated hydrogel networks with lower crosslink densities, consequently higher swelling abilities. The crosslink density of the hydrogels increased with increasing GA amount. The prepared hydrogels demonstrated to be pH and temperature responsive depicting decrease in swelling ratios with increasing pH and temperature. The obtained swelling results indicated that the swelling behavior of the hydrogels agreed with the Flory–Rehner equation. Graphical abstract Novel polyetheramine crosslinked based water-insoluble hydrogels having imine functional groups in their network structures were prepared via polymerization of difunctional Jeffamine monomers. Investigated influence of different Jeffamine molecular weight synthesized hydrogels depicted suitable swelling, pH and temperature responsive properties.