Copolymer of chitosan with acrylamide: electron beam stimulated synthesis, structure and properties

The aim of this research was to obtain the grafted copolymer of chitosan with acrylamide using the electron beam irradiation. Radiation dose was varied from 6 to 160 kGy. The highest yield of the product was observed at radiation dose of 12–40 kGy. Further increase in the dose caused a decrease in the product yield as well as its solubility in water. Using gel permeation chromatography, it was confirmed that unreacted chitosan remained in the product. NMR study of the water-soluble part of the product obtained under the doses of 6, 12, and 20 kGy showed that the length of the side chains of grafted acrylamide was about 2 elementary units. Investigation of chitosan solutions by means of dynamic light scattering revealed the presence of chitosan agglomerates in the solution. The possibility of obtaining dense films was demonstrated. Mechanical treatment of the copolymer in the ball mill caused an increase in the solubility of the samples obtained even at radiation doses of 80 and 160 kGy. It was determined by means of chromatographic methods that there were no products with low molecular weight in the ball-milled product, and unreacted chitosan did not undergo mechanocracking during the mechanical treatment.