The preparation and thermal properties of calcium alginate/gelatin (semi) IPNs crosslinked with oxidized sodium alginate

Calcium alginate/gelatin (semi) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared with oxidized sodium alginate as a crosslinking agent. The structure and thermal stabilities of (semi) IPNs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. And in contrast with calculated TGA data, the reactive mechanism in the blending process was studied. Compared with the thermal stabilities of (semi) IPNs crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, the results indicated that the thermal stabilities of (semi) IPNs crosslinked with oxidized sodium alginate were similar to those crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. And oxidized sodium alginate could be instead of toxic glutaraldehyde to crosslink the calcium alginate/gelatin (semi) IPNs system, and physical and/or chemical reaction may take place in the blending process.