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Electrically conducting silver/guar gum/poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite
E S Abdel-Halim1, Salem S Al-Deyab1
1Petrochemical Research Chair, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|June 15, 2014
Summary
Researchers synthesized a novel electrically conducting nanocomposite hydrogel using silver, guar gum, and poly(acrylic acid). Its conductivity depends on silver nanoparticle content and swelling ratio, offering potential for advanced material applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Natural polymers like guar gum offer biocompatibility and biodegradability.
- Developing functional hydrogels with electrical conductivity is crucial for advanced applications.
- Nanocomposite hydrogels combine properties of polymers and nanoparticles for enhanced performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize an electrically conducting silver/guar gum/poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite hydrogel.
- To investigate the effect of synthesis parameters on the hydrogel properties.
- To characterize the nanocomposite and evaluate its electrical conductivity.
Main Methods:
- Grafting acrylic acid monomers onto guar gum using ammonium persulphate initiator.
- Crosslinking the graft copolymer with alkaline epichlorohydrin.
- Incorporating silver nanoparticles via silver nitrate reduction during crosslinking.
- Characterization of silver content, swelling ratio, and electrical conductivity.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized a silver/guar gum/poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite hydrogel.
- Optimized grafting and crosslinking/reduction conditions.
- Demonstrated that electrical conductivity is influenced by silver nanoparticle loading and hydrogel swelling ratio.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanocomposite hydrogel exhibits tunable electrical conductivity.
- The study provides insights into the synthesis and properties of conductive hydrogels.
- Potential applications in areas requiring conductive and biocompatible materials.
