Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hydrogels were prepared by crosslinking of aqueous PEO 35,000 solutions at a 30% concentration by using electron irradiation. Measurements were performed at different dose rates and irradiation doses. The swelling properties of each sample have been investigated and the network properties of the PEO hydrogels calculated. In particular, the effect of dose rate and dose irradiation on the crosslinking density were investigated. Finally, the experimental results illustrating the effects of the beam parameters on the network properties for a pulsed irradiation are compared to those of a continuum beam. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.