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Synthesis of Stimuli-responsive Nanogels using Aqueous One-step Crosslinking and Co-nanopolymerization
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Multi-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels with high strength and toughness
Jingli Yang1, Shuang Liu, Ying Xiao
1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 206 Guanggu First Road, Donghu High-Tech Development Zone, Wuhan 430205, China. jywu@wit.edu.cn.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed strong, multi-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC). These advanced materials exhibit high strength, toughness, and tunable responses for smart soft devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing multi-responsive hydrogels with high mechanical strength is crucial for advanced smart soft devices.
- Integrating multiple responsive elements and energy dissipation mechanisms into hydrogels presents significant challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize multi-responsive nanocomposite hydrogels with enhanced strength and toughness.
- To investigate the influence of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) ratios, crosslinker, and clay content on hydrogel properties.
Main Methods:
- In situ copolymerization of NIPAM and DAC within an aqueous dispersion of exfoliated LAPONITE® RDS using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA) as a crosslinker.
- Systematic investigation of material properties through compression tests and swelling ratio measurements.
- Evaluation of temperature, pH, and ionic strength responsiveness.
Main Results:
- Achieved high compressive strength up to 6.2 MPa and fracture strain exceeding 90%.
- Demonstrated a very high swelling ratio up to 40 g g-1 due to ionic DAC moieties.
- Exhibited tunable temperature responsiveness (Ttrans) and responsiveness to pH and ionic strength variations.
Conclusions:
- The combined use of clay and MBAA effectively enhances hydrogel strength and toughness while preventing clay precipitation.
- The synthesized nanocomposite hydrogels possess excellent mechanical properties and multi-responsiveness, making them promising for smart soft device applications.
- Tunable responses to external stimuli (temperature, pH, ionic strength) were successfully achieved through controlled composition.
