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Preparation, Structure, and Properties of Polystyrene-Microsphere-Reinforced PEG-Based Hydrogels
Chen Zhang1, Zhanping Zhang1, Yuhong Qi1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
Polymers
|August 28, 2021
Summary
This study enhanced polyethylene glycol hydrogels by incorporating polystyrene microspheres, significantly improving mechanical strength and swelling properties. The modified hydrogels also exhibit a tunable hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic surface transition.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Hydrogels are versatile materials with applications in various fields.
- Improving the mechanical strength and surface properties of hydrogels is crucial for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the mechanical strength and practicability of polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels.
- To investigate the effect of incorporating polystyrene microspheres on hydrogel properties.
Main Methods:
- Soap-free emulsion polymerization for core-shell polystyrene microspheres.
- In-situ polymerization to create PEG hydrogels with polystyrene microspheres.
- Characterization using FTIR, SEM, TEM, confocal microscopy, swelling tests, contact angle, and compression tests.
Main Results:
- Polystyrene microspheres and PEG hydrogels exhibited desired swelling capacity and excellent mechanical properties.
- Hydrogels demonstrated a tunable hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic surface transition due to hydrophilic chain migration.
- Incorporation of polystyrene microspheres significantly improved compressive strength and swelling degree.
- Increased polystyrene microsphere content led to a gradual decrease in hydrogel surface energy.
Conclusions:
- The incorporation of polystyrene microspheres is an effective strategy to enhance PEG hydrogel mechanical strength and swelling.
- The observed surface property changes suggest potential for stimuli-responsive applications.
- Optimizing microsphere content is key to achieving desired hydrogel performance.
