Miscibility and Thermal Behavior of Pullulan/Polyacrylamide Blends

Abstract

Blends of Pullulan (PU) and Polyacrylamide (PAM) having biomedical applications were prepared and characterized in order to evaluate the miscibility of natural component with the synthetic one. Blends with different composition ratios were prepared using water as common solvent. Viscosity, ultrasonic velocity and density were measured at 30 and 40°C. Furthermore, the blend films were prepared by a solution casting method and analyzed by DSC, FTIR and TGA methods. Results of ultrasonic and density methods revealed the semi-miscibility of the blend. Using viscosity data, interaction parameters (Chee's ‘μ’ and Sun's ‘α’) were computed. The values confirmed that the blend is miscible when the Pullulan content is less than 20% in the blend. Change in temperature had no effect on the miscibility nature of the blends. Intermolecular interactions of hydrogen bonding type were confirmed by DSC and FTIR methods. Thermal behavior of blends was investigated using TGA method.

Keywords:

• Blends
• miscibility
• viscosity
• Pullulan
• glass transition

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge BARC, Mumbai, for financial support under BRNS project No. 2009/34/19/BRNS and also express their gratitude to Dr. Kurunji Venkataramana Gowda, Founder President, AOLE, Sullia and Dr. N. A. Jnanesh, Principal, KVG College of Engineering, Sullia, for providing infrastructure facilities.