Abstract
Abstract Polyampholyte hydrogels and interpenetrating polyelectrolyte networks (IPPN) based on 4‐(but‐3‐en‐1‐ynyl)‐1‐methylpiperidin‐4‐ol (1) have been synthesized by γ‐irradiation polymerization. The influence of the pH and ionic strength of the solution on the degree of swelling ϕ for both polyampholyte hydrogels and IPPN has been studied. The shrinking and swelling behaviour of crosslinked samples was explained by the formation or destruction of intra‐ and interpoly‐electrolyte complexes.