IR and Raman Investigation of Some Poly(acrylic) Acid Gels in Aqueous and Neutralized State

The modification of local polymeric conformation of poly(acrylic) acid (PAA), induced by hydration and neutralization with triethanol amine (TEA), was investigated by IR and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of water is the perturbation of hydrogen bonds established between different polymeric chains and the modification of the local conformation of the polymer. The neutralization with TEA affects the carboxylic groups and modifies the local conformation of the polymer. These modifications are correlated with the shift and the modification of the characteristics of IR and Raman spectra.