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Related Concept Videos

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching01:17

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The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
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Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
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Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
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Chain-Extendable Crosslinked Hydrogels Using Branching RAFT Modification.

Stephen Rimmer1,2, Paul Spencer3, Davide Nocita3

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2JA, UK.

Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2023
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces functional hydrogels using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylic acid (AA). Grafting acrylic acid onto HEMA-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) hydrogels enhanced mechanical strength and electrostatic binding capabilities.

Keywords:
HEMAchain extensiongraftinghydrogelmodificationpoly(acrylic acid)

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

  • Hydrogels are versatile polymeric networks with applications in various fields.
  • Traditional surface functionalization methods can lead to undesirable side reactions like homopolymerization.
  • Developing robust hydrogel networks with tunable functionality is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize functional crosslinked hydrogels using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylic acid (AA).
  • To investigate the impact of incorporating acrylic acid via copolymerization versus chain extension on hydrogel properties.
  • To evaluate the mechanical strength and electrostatic binding capabilities of the functionalized hydrogels.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of crosslinked hydrogels using HEMA, acrylic acid (AA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA).
  • Incorporation of AA via both direct copolymerization and chain extension using a branching reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) agent.
  • Characterization of hydrogel mechanical properties and assessment of their function as electrostatic binders.

Main Results:

  • Hydrogels with high levels of copolymerized AA showed reduced mechanical integrity due to weakened crosslinking.
  • Hydrogels functionalized via chain extension using a branching RAFT agent retained loose-chain end functionality.
  • Acrylic acid grafted onto HEMA-EGDMA hydrogels exhibited superior mechanical strength compared to statistical copolymers.
  • The grafted hydrogels demonstrated effective functionality as electrostatic binders for cationic flocculants.

Conclusions:

  • Chain extension using branching RAFT agents offers a superior method for functionalizing HEMA-EGDMA hydrogels compared to direct copolymerization.
  • Grafting acrylic acid onto hydrogels significantly enhances their mechanical properties and electrostatic binding capacity.
  • These functionalized hydrogels show promise for applications requiring robust materials with specific binding functionalities.