Molecular relaxations in radiationally crosslinked poly(vinyl methyl ether) hydrogels

Molecular relaxations in poly(vinyl methyl ether) hydrogels obtained by electron beam irradiation (range of doses: 13–50 kGy) of 10% polymer solution in water were investigated. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (10−1–106 Hz) and differential scanning calorimetry results shown two relaxation processes of the polymer network origin – glass transition and polymer chains collapsing. Also detected were two relaxations connected with frozen water motions. At the lowest temperature there is a relaxation connected with the ice strongly defected by the polymer chains and at higher temperatures there is a relaxation connected with the hexagonal ice I.