Effects of repeated water exchange on the swelling behavior of poly(sodium acrylate) gels crosslinked by aluminum ions

Polyelectrolyte hydrogels, physically crosslinked by metal ions, were synthesized using poly(sodium acrylate) as the main constituent and Al ions as the crosslinker. The swelling ratio of the gel was measured whenever the solvent water was repeatedly exchanged in a constant interval. The as‐synthesized gel exhibited two relaxation processes; the gel swelled at the first stage, then shrunk very slowly at the second stage, and recovered to the initial size just after the gelation (ultimately, the gel became smaller than that). The relaxation times of both processes were found longer (exceptionally longer for the shrinking process) than the conventional collective diffusion of polymer networks. The diffused amounts of Al ions and Na counter ions in the solvent were also measured at each water exchange. The diffusion of Al ions into the solvent was found to finish when the swelling ratio took the maximum (at the end of the first stage), while Na ions continued to diffuse until the diameter became the final one (at the end of the second stage). The microscopic structural changes by the repeated water exchange were obtained by the measurements of ATR FT‐IR spectroscopy on the gels with different swelling ratios. The carboxyl groups were gradually protonated on both stages, and the formation of hydrogen bonding was accelerated on the second stage. Effects of the repeated water exchange on the swelling behavior are discussed in terms of the diffusion of Al ions into the solvent, the exchange of Na counter ions by protons, and the formation of hydrogen bonding. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 753–763, 2005     

Synthesis, swelling behavior and surface microstructure of poly(sodium acrylate) gels cross-linked by aluminum ions

We report the synthesis and some unique properties of polymer gels cross-linked by metal ions. They are made of poly(sodium acrylate) and aluminum ions. Cylindrical and thin plate gels were synthesized in glass molds by mixing poly(sodium acrylate) with aluminum hydroxide of various concentrations. The swelling ratio of the gels was measured by changing the solvent pH and adding NaCl with different concentrations. Each gel was found to swell at the first stage and shrink thereafter by repeated solvent exchanges; the swelling ratio ultimately returned to the initial one just after gelation. These features could be explained using a qualitative model based on the ion exchange and the formation of hydrogen bonding. A characteristic surface microstructure was observed on the dehydrated gels using an atomic force microscope. The microstructures were analyzed in terms of the autocorrelation function and the root-mean-square roughness. The surface microstructure of this system was characterized by the microdomains, the shape of which was found to depend strongly on the amount of aluminum ions and the gel thickness at gelation. It could be controlled not only by the concentration of the cross-linker but also by the dehydration condition.     

Formation of hydrogen bonding in ionized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gels by continuous water exchange

The effects of continuous water exchange on the swelling behavior of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐sodium acrylate) gel were studied. The diameter of gels and the Na⁺ concentration in the solvent were measured at several constant intervals after the solvent (the distilled deionized water) was exchanged. The diameter decreased at room temperature as the solvent was exchanged with water, and it continued to decrease even after more than about 97% of the initial Na⁺ diffused into the water. Thus, the final swelling ratio of the gel was only slightly larger than that of the neutral poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) gel. To reveal the structural change in molecular level, solid‐state ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning, solid‐state ¹H combined rotation and multiple‐pulse spectroscopy, and swollen‐state ¹³C dipolar decoupled/magic‐angle spinning NMR experiments were carried out for several dried and swollen samples by varying the times of water exchange. As a result, the intensity and position of the carboxyl peak changed, and the relative intensity of the nonionized carboxyl groups of gels increased with an increasing number of water exchanges. These results indicated that hydrogen bonding was formed between the two, nonionized carboxyl groups (? COOH) and/or between the ? COOH and ? CONH? groups. The macroscopic polymer network shrinkage is discussed in terms of the replacement of counterions Na⁺ by H⁺ and of the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1090–1098, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-hydroxymethylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels

Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on N-isopropylacrylamide, N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, poly(NIPAM–co-NHMAAm–co-HEMA), have been synthesized and their swelling—deswelling behavior studied as a function of NIPAM concentration, NIPAM/NHMAAm and NIPAM/HEMA mole ratio, and total monomer concentration. Copolymers varying in composition have been obtained by redox copolymerization of these three monomers. Temperature has been changed in the ranges from 4 to 70 °C at fixed pH and total ionic strength. Equilibrium swelling ratio, dynamic swelling ratio, and dynamic deswelling ratio were evaluated for all hydrogel systems. The equilibrium swelling ratios of the copolymeric gels decrease with increasing NHMAAm and HEMA content. The formation of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl and amido groups decreases the hydrophilic group numbers of the gel and the affinity of the gel towards water decreases. The copolymer gels also showed rapid volume transitions with time. The time required for equilibrium shrinking increased with increasing NHMAAm and HEMA content in the gel.     

非离子聚(N-乙烯基-2-吡咯烷酮)凝胶在线型聚(丙烯酸)溶液中的溶胀特性

研究了在线型聚 (丙烯酸 ) (PAA)溶液中链长、pH、离子强度和水 /二甲亚砜混合溶剂组成对非离子聚 (N-乙烯基 - 2 -吡咯烷酮 ) (PVP)水凝胶溶胀特性的影响 .发现聚酸浓度的变化引起凝胶显著的体积相变 ,这是因为凝胶和聚合物通过氢键形成了大分子间凝胶 -聚合物复合物 .凝胶的溶胀特性取决于聚酸的链长而不是离子强度 .随着pH值和水 /二甲亚砜混合溶剂组成的变化 ,凝胶的溶胀率 (SR)发生变化     

聚合物水凝胶体积相变过程中自发生成的新图案

聚合物水凝胶在 p H、温度等外界条件变化之下可发生连续或不连续的体积相变[1～ 6] .近年来 ,国际学术界认识到 ,凝胶的体积变化并不总是均匀地发生 ,伴随着剧烈的体积相变过程 ,凝胶中往往会呈现丰富多彩的图案[7～ 10 ] .这些图案已引起国际高分子学术界、包括研究材料力学行为和水母等“透明状动物”的科学家的极大兴趣 [11] .已发现了凝胶膨胀过程中的准六方凸起 [7]、凝胶急剧收缩过程中的竹节状条纹等图案 [8] .本文首次报道了凝胶的螺旋状图案 .Fig.1　 Typical Bamboo-like patterns formed in hydrogelshrinking after immersed…     

Hydrophilic films based on poly(acrylic acid)–poly(vinyl methyl ether) blends cross-linked by gamma-radiation

Hydrophilic polymeric films based on blends of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) were prepared by casting technique and were cross-linked by gamma-radiation. The films are soft and elastic in a dry state and form hydrogels upon immersion in water. Effect of absorbed dose on the gel fraction as well as on the swelling of the films in aqueous solutions of different pH is studied. It was found that addition of lower molecular weight PVME decreases the gelation dose, which is likely related to a decrease in glass transition temperature of the blends. In acidic media the films have low swelling degree because of suppression of carboxylic groups ionisation and formation of additional physical cross-links via interpolymer hydrogen bonding.     

温度及pH敏感性N-乙烯基吡咯烷酮与丙烯酸β-羟基丙酯共聚物/聚(丙烯酸)互穿网络水凝胶的合成及其性能研究

由N 乙烯基吡咯烷酮与丙烯酸 β 羟基丙酯共聚物 /聚 (丙烯酸 )所得的互穿网络水凝胶P(NVP co β HPA) /PAA具有温度及pH双重敏感特性 .在酸性条件下 ,由于P(NVP)与PAA间络合作用 ,随温度升高迅速退胀 ;在碱性条件下 ,凝胶的溶胀率远大于酸性条件下的溶胀率 ,且随温度的升高而逐渐增大     

Dual temperature‐ and pH‐sensitive hydrogels from interpenetrating networks and copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide and sodium acrylate

Hydrogels responsive to both temperature and pH have been synthesized in the forms of sequential interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and sodium acrylate (SA) and compared with the crosslinked random copolymers of N‐isopropylacrylamide and SA. Whereas the stimuli‐sensitive behaviors of copolymer hydrogels were strongly dependent on the ionic SA contents, the IPN hydrogels exhibited independent swelling and thermal behaviors of each network component. The sequences and media in the synthesis of IPNs influenced the swelling capacities of the IPNs, but not the temperature or pH ranges at which the swelling changes occurred. In IPNs, a more expanded primary gel network during the synthesis of the secondary network contributed to the better swelling of the final IPNs. Both the swelling and thermal behaviors of the IPNs suggest that poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(sodium acrylate) are phase separated regardless of their synthesis conditions. The presence of the poly(sodium acrylate) network did not influence the temperature or the extent of phase transition of the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) network in the IPNs, but did improve the thermal stability of the IPNs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3293–3301, 2004     

Swelling-shrinking behavior of chemically cross-linked polypeptide gels from poly(α-L-lysine), poly(α-DL-lysine), poly(ɛ-L-lysine) and thermally prepared poly(lysine): effects of pH, temperature and additives in the solution

We synthesized the glutaraldehyde cross-linked hydrogels using four kinds of poly(lysine)s (PLs) and measured the equilibrium swelling ratio (Q) as a function of pH. Also measured was the temperature change of Q at a fixed pH (11.6) in the absence and presence of additives (LiBr, methanol and urea) that affect the secondary structure of PLs. The swelling data were examined using a force balance approach in which the repulsive and attractive interactions among the cross-linked PL chains were considered based on the conformational properties of PLs in aqueous solutions. It was found that the formation of the helical segments in the cross-linked chain has little effect in the gel collapse, but their association acts as the attractive interaction causing the gel to shrink. The formation of the beta-sheet structure within the network also acts as the attractive interaction. These attractive interactions are mainly due to the hydrogen bonding, but hydrophobic interactions between the lysine side chains should be considered. In addition, in the swelling behavior of all the PL gels the polyampholyte nature appears due to electrostatic interactions of the basic groups with the C-terminal carboxyl group.     

疏水改性pH响应型智能水凝胶P(HEMA-NaAA-DiAC16)的制备及其溶胀性能

以二烯丙基胺和1-溴代十六烷为原料合成了疏水单体N,N-二烯丙基正十六烷胺(DiAC16),用FTIR、1H NMR 和元素分析对其进行了表征。 以2-羟基甲基丙烯酸乙酯(HEMA)、丙烯酸(AA)和N,N-二烯丙基正十六烷胺为共聚单体,N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(BIS)为交联剂,十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)为表面活性剂,过硫酸铵-四甲基乙二胺(TMEDA)为引发体系,制得的疏水改性智能水凝胶P(HEMA-NaAA-DiAC16)具有pH敏感特性。 研究了DiAC16、NaAA、BIS用量及pH值和离子强度等因素对水凝胶P(HEMA-NaAA-DiAC16)溶胀性能的影响。 结果表明,凝胶在水中的平衡溶胀率(为78.9～163.91),随DiAC16、BIS用量的增加和NaAA用量的减少而减少,n值(一般在0.5~1.0之间)随DiAC16、NaAA和BIS用量的增加而增加,为非Fickian扩散。 水凝胶的吸水溶胀是放热过程,ΔHm在-2.09～-3.64 kJ/mol,ΔHm的绝对值随DiAC16用量的减少、NaAA用量和BIS用量的增加而增大,聚合物与水的亲和力逐渐增强。 随离子强度的增强,平衡溶胀率下降。     

Thermosensitive superabsorbents based on poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-sodium acrylate)

A series of poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) with a degree of crosslinking of 1 mol%have been prepared as thermosensitive superabsorbents for water.The critical swelling temperatures or the volume phase transition temperature(VPTT) and the water absorption capacity of the polymers can be modulated by varying the amount of sodium acrylate(0-60 mol%) in the copolymers.The water absorption and swelling properties of the different hydrogels have been studied as function of temperature.The crosslinked copolymers can absorb large amounts of water at ambient temperatures and dehydrate at higher temperatures with relative ease,making the absorbent materials thermally responsive and thus reusable.The water absorption capacity of the copolymers depends on the pH of the media as the acrylate monomer has a higher water absorption in its deprotonated state.Added urea in the media raises and sharpens the VPTT values of the copolymers containing sodium acrylate.     

pH effects on the complexation, miscibility and radiation-induced crosslinking in poly(acrylic acid)-poly(vinyl alcohol) blends

The effect of pH on the complexation of poly(acrylic acid) with poly(vinyl alcohol) in aqueous solution, the miscibility of these polymers in the solid state and the possibility for crosslinking the blends using gamma radiation has been studied. It is demonstrated that the complexation ability of poly(vinyl alcohol) with respect to poly(acrylic acid) is relatively low in comparison with some other synthetic non-ionic polymers. The precipitation of interpolymer complexes was observed below the critical pH of complexation (pH(crit1)), which characterizes the transition between a compact hydrophobic polycomplex and an extended hydrophilic interpolymer associate. Films prepared by casting from aqueous solutions at different pH values exhibited a transition from miscibility to immiscibility at a certain critical pH, pH(crit2), above which hydrogen bonding is prevented. It is shown here that gamma radiation crosslinking of solid blends is efficient and only results in the formation of hydrogel films for blends prepared between pH(crit1) and pH(crit2). The yield of the gel fraction and the swelling properties of the films depended on the absorbed radiation dose and the polymer ratio. [Diagram: see text] SEM image of an equimolar PAA-PVA blend cast from a pH 4.6 solution.     

Effect of solvent on aggregation structure and responsive properties of copolymeric gel with side chain crystals

The copolymeric gel films were prepared by a radical copolymerization of stearyl acrylate(SA), acrylic acid(AA) and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA) as a cross-linking agent. The copolymeric (molar ratio SA/AA/MBAA: 24.7/74.3/1.0) gel films with crystalline side chains were swollen in three different kinds of solvent and their aggregation structure and responsive properties have been investigated. In order to control the SA side chains-solvent interaction and to dissociate carboxyl groups in AA, solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), (1-hexanol/DMSO) mixed solvents and water with different pH values were used. The responsive behaviors of the (SA/AA/MBAA) gel film swollen in different solvents were discussed on the basis of the weight swelling ratio. The X-ray diffraction study of the gel film revealed that the long period corresponding to a layer distance for the (SA/AA/MBAA) gel film swollen in DMSO increased with temperature or the swelling ratio, and the interchain distance of alkyl side chains remained constant with the variation of temperature up to the melting temperature of SA side chain crystals. The swelling ratio of the gel film in (1-hexanol/DMSO) mixed solvent exhibited an abrupt increase in the case of about 40wt% of 1-hexanol, because the SA side chain crystals of the gel film in the mixed solvents were dissolved due to an increase in SA-solvent interaction. On the other hand, the gel film in the water with different pH values showed a sharp increase in the swelling ratio above pH = 11, because the ionic repulsive force among the AA groups became greater than the aggregation one among alkyl side chains. These results indicate that the swelling ratio of the (SA/AA/MBAA) gel film can be controlled by temperature, pH and the magnitude of solubility parameter of swelling solvent.     

Nonequilibrium 2-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid monolayers: effect of electrolytes

2-Hydroxyacids display complex monolayer phase behavior due to the additional hydrogen bonding afforded by the presence of the second hydroxy group. The placement of this group at the position α to the carboxylic acid functionality also introduces the possibility of chelation, a utility important in crystallization including biomineralization. Biomineralization, like many biological processes, is inherently a nonequilibrium process. The nonequilibrium monolayer phase behavior of 2-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid was investigated on each of pure water, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate crystallizing subphases as a precursor study to a model calcium carbonate biomineralizing system, each at a pH of ～6. The role of the bicarbonate co-ion in manipulating the monolayer structure was determined by comparison with monolayer phase behavior on a sodium chloride subphase. Monolayer phase behavior was probed using surface pressure/area isotherms, surface potential, Brewster angle microscopy, and synchrotron-based grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and X-ray reflectivity. Complex phase behavior was observed for all but the sodium chloride subphase with hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and steric effects defining the symmetry of the monolayer. On a pure water subphase hydrogen bonding dominates with three phases coexisting at low pressures. Introduction of calcium ions into the aqueous subphase ensures strong cation binding to the surfactant head groups through chelation. The monolayer becomes very unstable in the presence of bicarbonate ions within the subphase due to short-range hydrogen bonding interactions between the monolayer and bicarbonate ions facilitated by the sodium cation enhancing surfactant solubility. The combined effects of electrostatics and hydrogen bonding are observed on the calcium carbonate crystallizing subphase.     

A biochemo-mechanical system consisting of polymer gels with immobilized glucose dehydrogenase

An attempt was made to construct a biochemo-mechanical system via the physical entrapment of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) within a gel consisting of a crosslinked copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid. We observed that the gel with the immobilized GDH shrank when glucose as the substrate was added into an outer medium together with NAD⁺ as the coenzyme. This was due to a decrease in the pH within and in the near vicinity of the gel phase through the enzymatic formation of gluconic acid; the replacement of the outer medium with a fresh substrate solution to remove gluconic acid returned the gel to its initial volume through swelling, although it started to shrink again within a few minutes. These swelling and shrinking cycles were repeated with excellent reproducibility. Therefore, the present immobilized system has the capability of converting biochemical energy into mechanical work through the swelling and shrinking of the gel support.     

金属离子/胆酸钠超分子水凝胶特殊温度响应性的机理研究

研究了胆酸钠溶液与金属离子溶液混合自组装而成的水凝胶随温度升高而机械强度增强的独特温度响应性. 利用透射电镜(TEM)和X射线衍射(XRD)仪表征了水凝胶中聚集体的微观形貌及分子排列方式. 考察了其流变学行为、荧光性质随温度的变化. 结果表明,升温促进凝胶形成的速率, 并提高凝胶的机械强度. 随着温度的升高, 稀土离子的荧光强度显著增强. 表面张力测量表明, 胆酸钠溶液的临界胶束浓度随温度的升高而略有降低. 综合实验事实, 我们提出随温度升高导致的凝胶强度增强行为是由胆酸钠分子在高温下聚集能力增强的结果.     

Swelling of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels in water-aprotic solvent mixtures

The swelling volume of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) gel in aprotic solvents (acetonitrile (AcN)-, tetrahydrofuran (THF)-, 1,4-dioxane (DO)- and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO))-water mixtures was measured at 25°C. The gel swollen in water shrank first and then reswelled with addition of the aprotic solvents. At an intermediate mole fraction (XDMSO) range of DMSO-water mixtures, the gel demonstrated a reentrant swelling phenomenon the hydrated gel shrank first on addition of a small amount of solvent, showed a typical wide reentrant transition, and gradually reswelled in the range near pure solvent. On the other hand, the gels in AcN-, THF-, and DO-water mixtures demonstrated a reentrant-convex swelling phenomenon: the gels reswelled after a reentrant phase transition in low Xorg (XAcN, XTHF and XDO), showed a maximum swelling in the intermediate Xorg region, and shrank again gradually in the high Xorg region. Such a swelling behavior of the gel was interpreted by correlating with solution properties of the aqueous aprotic solvent mixtures.The strength of hydrogen bonding around amide groups of the homopolymer was examined in pure solvents (water, THF, and DMSO) and in all proportion of aqueous THF to observe the relation with swelling behavior of gel by spectrum analysis of the amide I and II bands of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The swelling properties of gels in solvents and the aqueous mixtures were well correlated with the peak shifts of amide groups of the homopolymer.     

Study on temperature response in raspberry-form gels of poly (N,N-diethylacrylamide)

Slow swelling and shrinking rates are a significant challenge for some applications of temperature-sensitive hydrogels. This study reports raspberry-form poly N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAA) gel particles, which are aggregates of single spherical gel particles. The raspberry-form gel particles show improved temperature-response rates especially for swelling. This improvement in the response rate is attributed to two key factors: the free space between the individual gel particles that make up the aggregated gel particle, and the constraints from the contact points between the individual gel particles. During the swelling process, the polymer chain networks can diffuse at the faster rate characteristic of the individual gel particles constructing the raspberry-form gel, and consequently the response rate of the overall raspberry-form gels can be accelerated. During the shrinking process, the constraints from the contact points between the individual gels dominate the polymer chain diffusion and the shrinking rate because of non-zero shear modulus. The shrinking behavior was affected not by the individual particle size, but rather the apparent gel size and shape.     

氯化聚乙烯共混丙烯酸钠制备吸水膨胀橡塑材料

力化学;氯化聚乙烯共混丙烯酸钠制备吸水膨胀橡塑材料