Propriedades mecanicas da blenda de poli(vinilpirrolidona)/carboximetil cellulose (PVP/CMC)

Abstract

Polymerics hydrogels are crosslinked materials with capacity to absorb and to keep high amount of water. PVP hydrogels offer special interest for biomedical applications as they have an excellent biocompatibility. The property of water absorption was improved in PVP hydrogel by the addition of CMC producing a material with still better characteristics of body fluids absorption, matching the requirements of dressings designed to be used in exsudative wounds. Hydrogels after exsudative absorption weaken as a result of the increase in water content. Therefore, the mechanical properties of hydrogels are extremely important in designing it for a given application. In previous work the formulation was already optimized by factorial planning. This work evaluates the mechanical properties of hydrogel made from blends of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and carboxy methyl cellulose (PVP/CMC) by resistance to penetration, and tensile strength measurements. All samples were very weak to deformation and the penetration assay showed more useful to measure the mechanical properties of swelled hidrogels.