聚乙二醇对PAMPS/PAM双网络水凝胶性能的影响

采用紫外光引发聚合制备了聚乙二醇(PEG)改性的聚(2-丙烯酰胺-2-甲基丙磺酸)/聚丙烯酰胺(PAMPS/PAM)双网络水凝胶.测定并比较了PEG改性前后双网络水凝胶的溶胀动力学以及单网络水凝胶中丙烯酰胺(AM)的吸收量;用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了单网络水凝胶的结构;测定PEG改性前后双网络水凝胶的压缩及拉伸性能.结果表明,经PEG改性后的双网络水凝胶有较高的溶胀比;改性后单网络水凝胶更易吸收AM;改性后双网络水凝胶压缩形变率达到90%以上、拉伸形变率是未改性双网络水凝胶的2倍.     

PVA-PAMPS-PAA三元互穿网络型水凝胶的合成及其性能研究

以2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸(AMPS)、丙烯酸(AA)以及聚乙烯醇(PVA)为原料,制备了PVA-PAMPS-PAA三元互穿网络型(T-IPN)水凝胶.红外分析表明,PVA与PAA以及PAMPS之间形成了较强的氢键,使得PVA分子上的C—O伸缩震动吸收峰移向了低波数处.X射线衍射以及电镜分析表明,当PVA用量较低时,PVA能均匀的穿插于凝胶网络中,形成完善的互穿网络结构,当PVA用量过高时,部分的PVA结晶而使得凝胶出现相分离.研究了该三元互穿网络型水凝胶的溶胀性能,结果表明,该水凝胶的平衡溶胀比在200至340之间,并且随着AA以及AMPS用量的增加,凝胶的溶胀速率以及平衡溶胀比均升高.该三元互穿网络型水凝胶在酸性溶液中和在碱性溶液中表现出截然不同的消溶胀性能;并且随着溶液pH的升高,凝胶在pH=9.0附近出现体积突变,表现出pH敏感性.通过研究T-IPN水凝胶的抗压缩性能发现,利用线型高分子、柔性高分子网络以及刚性高分子网络制备的三元互穿网络型水凝胶能在高溶胀比下保持较高的强度.溶胀比为180的T-IPN水凝胶,其最大抗压缩强度可达12.1 MPa.进一步研究发现,凝胶的组成以及溶胀比均对凝胶的抗压缩强度和压缩应变均存在较大的影响.     

大孔PAMPS/PVA半互穿网络型水凝胶的制备及其性能研究

以PEG6000为成孔剂, 合成了大孔聚(2-丙烯酰胺-2-甲基丙磺酸)/聚乙烯醇半互穿网络型(s-IPN)水凝胶. 红外分析表明, PVA与PAMPS之间形成了较强的氢键, 使得PVA分子上的C—O伸缩振动吸收峰移向了低波数处. X射线衍射分析发现, 当PVA用量较高时, 由于部分的PVA结晶, 使得凝胶的半互穿网络结构不均匀. 电镜分析结果表明, 没有使用成孔剂的凝胶表面成褶皱形, 不存在任何孔洞结构; 而以PEG6000为成孔剂的凝胶表面存在相互贯穿的大孔结构. 研究了该水凝胶的溶胀性能, 结果表明, 该水凝胶的平衡溶胀度在116至320之间; 而成孔剂PEG6000的加入能较大幅度提高凝胶的溶胀速率, 凝胶在240 min之内就能达到溶胀平衡. 对凝胶抗压缩性能的研究表明, 当PVA用量为9.1% (w)时, 凝胶的抗压缩强度最大, 可达12.0 MPa; 而成孔剂的加入会在一定程度削弱凝胶的抗压缩强度. 该凝胶具有较好的电场敏感性, 研究发现, 将吸去离子水达到溶胀平衡的凝胶放入施加有电场的0.2 mol•L－1 NaCl溶液中时, 凝胶迅速偏向阳极. 而PVA和成孔剂PGE6000的用量均对凝胶的偏转速度以及最大偏转角存在较大的影响.     

PAMPS/SiO_2杂化水凝胶的合成及电场敏感性研究

以2-丙烯酰胺-2-甲基丙磺酸(AMPS)为有机原料,正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)为无机原料,过硫酸钾为引发剂,N,N'-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺为交联剂,通过原位-凝胶水溶液聚合法合成了一系列不同二氧化硅含量和不同聚离子浓度的聚(2-丙烯酰胺-2-甲基丙磺酸)/二氧化硅杂化电场敏感性水凝胶.通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)表征凝胶的结构,研究水凝胶在去离子水以及氯化钠溶液中的溶胀和消溶胀行为.结果表明,系列凝胶的平衡溶胀度介于224.9至325.6之间,复合凝胶的溶胀速率随TEOS用量的增加而降低;除理想杂化凝胶外,随着聚离子浓度的升高,凝胶在氯化钠溶液中的消溶胀速率逐渐减小.对凝胶的电场敏感性研究表明,当聚离子浓度大于氯化钠溶液浓度时,凝胶进一步溶胀,反之则消溶胀,其中杂化凝胶的再溶胀性能减弱,而消溶胀行为变得更为明显.同时制得的理想杂化凝胶,较纯有机凝胶具有更为理想的力学性能,最大抗压缩强度可达23.4 MPa.     

超大孔P(AA-co-AM)/PVA水凝胶的制备及吸附性能研究

采用泡沫分散聚合法,以饱和Na2CO3水溶液为发泡剂,过硫酸铵(APS)及NaHSO3为引发剂,N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(MBA)为交联剂,聚(氧化乙烯/氧化丙烯)(PF127)为泡沫稳定剂,丙烯酸(AA)和丙烯酰胺(AM)为单体,聚乙烯醇(PVA)为第二网络,制备超大孔半互穿水凝胶P(AA-co-AM)/PVA,并研究其对阳离子兰染料的吸附性能。研究表明,P(AA-co-AM)/PVA具有相互贯穿的超大孔结构;当n(AM):n(AA)=1.5:1,w(PVA)=1.6%时凝胶的平衡溶胀度达186.56g/g;凝胶具有很好的离子响应性,在蒸馏水中的平衡溶胀度为129.16g/g时,在0.1mol/L NaCl溶液中只有31.07g/g;对阳离子兰染料溶液的脱色率达92.17%,吸附容量达17.16mg/g。     

光化学合成P(DMAA-co-MMA)/Nano-SiO2复合水凝胶及其性能研究

以N,N-二甲基丙烯酰胺(DMAA)及甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)为单体,Irgacure 2959为光引发剂,N,N′-二甲基双丙烯酰胺(Bis)为交联剂,利用紫外光引发自由基聚合制备了聚N,N′-二甲基丙烯酰胺(PDMAA)及P(DMAA-co-MMA)水凝胶,并通过加入少量表面改性后的纳米SiO₂对该水凝胶进行改性,制得了P(DMAA-co-MMA)/纳米SiO₂复合水凝胶,用FT-IR和SEM对产物进行了表征,同时研究该复合凝胶的溶胀动力学、消溶胀动力学、pH值响应性、离子强度等.该方法简便、快捷,大大缩短了聚合时间,合成过程仅需2-3 min.     

P(AMPS-co-BMA)水凝胶的电场敏感性及电刺激响应机理

以离子型单体2-丙烯酰胺-2-甲基丙磺酸(AMPS)及非离子型单体甲基丙烯酸丁酯为原料, 偶氮二异丁腈为引发剂, N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺为交联剂, N,N-二甲基甲酰胺为溶剂, 通过自由基聚合合成了一系列聚离子浓度不同的聚(2-丙烯酰胺-2-甲基丙磺酸-co-甲基丙烯酸丁酯)电场敏感性水凝胶. 研究了其在去离子水及NaCl溶液中的溶胀行为. 结果表明, 该水凝胶在去离子水中的平衡溶胀度在236.4~298.5之间, 其溶胀速率随着AMPS用量的增加而增加; 并且随着凝胶内部聚离子浓度的增加, 凝胶在NaCl溶液中的消溶胀速率及消溶胀度逐渐减小. 凝胶的电刺激响应性能研究结果表明, 在电场存在下, 凝胶在NaCl溶液中的溶胀行为与凝胶内部聚离子浓度和溶液中NaCl浓度的相对大小有关, 当凝胶内部聚离子浓度大于溶液中NaCl浓度时, 凝胶溶胀, 反之则凝胶消溶胀; 而且, 凝胶在电场作用下的偏转行为同样与凝胶内部聚离子浓度和溶液中NaCl浓度的相对大小有关, 当凝胶内部聚离子浓度大于溶液中NaCl浓度时, 偏向阴极, 反之则凝胶偏向阳极. 另外, 在电场存在下, 凝胶在NaCl溶液中的电偏转速度与环境温度密切相关.     

多孔聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺水凝胶的制备与缓释性能

以N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPA)、N,N-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(MBA)和聚乙二醇(PEG)为原料,以60Co-γ射线为放射源制备了快速响应聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPA)多孔水凝胶。用红外光谱分析了水凝胶的结构,并测定了水凝胶的溶胀动力学、退溶胀动力学和平衡溶胀率。结果表明,PEG分子仅在聚合交联过程中充当成孔剂,不参与反应,反应后可被除去;水凝胶具有明显的温度敏感性,成孔剂的添加提高了水凝胶的溶胀性能和LCST。选用阿司匹林为模型药物,对水凝胶的药物缓释性能进行了初步研究。     

PVA增强P(AAEA-co-AA)温度敏感性水凝胶的合成及其性能研究

以4-乙酰基丙烯酰乙酸乙酯(AAEA)、丙烯酸(AA)以及PVA为原料, 通过自由基溶液聚合法, 制备了PVA-P(AAEA-co-AA)半穿网络型(s-IPN)水凝胶. 红外分析表明, AAEA主要以烯醇式结构存在, 并且由于PAAEA, PAA以及PVA之间较强的氢键作用, 使得PAAEA以及PVA分子上的C-O伸缩振动吸收峰移向了低波数处. 电镜分析表明, PVA能贯穿于P(AAEA-co-AA)交联网络中, 从而有效阻碍凝胶的相分离|而XRD研究发现, 当PVA用量较少时, PVA能均匀的贯穿于凝胶网络中, 形成完善的互穿网络结构, 当PVA用量过高时, PVA不能有效地贯穿于聚合物交联网络中而出现结晶. 采用DSC对s-IPN水凝胶的体积相转变进行了研究, 结果表明, 该s-IPN水凝胶的体积相转变温度(VPTT)在54.0至57.8 ℃之间, 并且随着PVA用量的增加, 凝胶的VPTT逐渐升高. 研究了该s-IPN水凝胶的抗压缩性能, 结果表明, PVA与P(AAEA-co-AA)形成的半互穿网络结构能有效提高凝胶的抗压缩强度, 其最大抗压缩强度可达8.4 MPa. 对凝胶的温度敏感性研究发现, 当外界温度低于VPTT时, 凝胶能保持溶胀状态|而当温度高于VPTT时, 凝胶的平衡溶胀度迅速下降, 表现为温度敏感性.     

聚(N,N′-二乙基丙烯酰胺)水凝胶的制备及其溶胀动力学

以N,N′-二乙基丙烯酰胺(DEA)为单体,偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)为引发剂,分别采用疏水性的1,2-二乙烯苯(DVB)和水溶性的N,N′-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(BIS)为交联剂制备了温度敏感水凝胶聚(N,N′-二乙基丙烯酰胺)(PDEA).制得的PDEA水凝胶的低临界溶解温度(LCST)在30 ℃附近,初步讨论了交联剂的用量和性质对水凝胶性能的影响.并对其在不同温度下达到溶胀平衡时的溶胀比,去溶胀动力学及干凝胶的再溶胀动力学过程进行了研究.     

Thermoresponsive Double Network Hydrogels with Exceptional Compressive Mechanical Properties

The utility of thermoresponsive hydrogels, such as those based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), is severely limited by their deficient mechanical properties. In particular, the simultaneous achievement of high strength and stiffness remains unreported. In this work, a thermoresponsive hydrogel is prepared having the unique combination of ultrahigh compressive strength (≈23 MPa) and excellent compressive modulus (≈1.5 MPa). This is accomplished by employing a double network (DN) design comprised of a tightly crosslinked, highly negatively charged 1st network based on poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid (PAMPS) and a loosely crosslinked, zwitterionic 2nd network based on a copolymer of thermoresponsive NIPAAm and zwitterionic 2‐(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl‐(3‐sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (MEDSAH). Comparison to other DN designs reveals that this PAMPS/P(NIPAAm‐co‐MEDSAH) DN hydrogel's remarkable properties stem from the intra‐ and internetwork ionic interactions of the two networks. Finally, this mechanically robust hydrogel retains the desirable thermosensitivity of PNIPAAm hydrogels, exhibiting a volume phase transition temperature of ≈35 °C.     

Flexible,stretchable and conductive PVA/PEDOT:PSS composite hydrogels prepared by SIPN strategy

Stretchable conductive hydrogels have received significant attention due to their possibility of being utilized in wearable electronics and healthcare devices. In this work, a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (SIPN) strategy was employed to fabricate a set of flexible, stretchable and conductive composite hydrogels composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the presence of glutaraldehyde as the crosslinker, HCl as the catalyst and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) as the conductive medium. The results from FTIR, Raman, SEM and TGA indicate that a chemical crosslinking network and interactions of PVA and PEDOT:PSS exist in the SIPN hydrogels. The swelling ratio of hydrogels decreased with increasing content of PEDOT:PSS. Due to the chemical crosslinking network and interactions of PVA and PEDOT:PSS, PVA networks semi-interpenetrated with PEDOT:PSS exhibited excellent tensile and compression properties. The tensile strength and elongation at breakage of the composite hydrogels with 0.14 wt% PEDOT:PSS were 70 KPa and 239%, respectively. The compression stress of the composite hydrogels with 0.14 wt% PEDOT:PSS at a strain of 50% was about 216 KPa. The electrical conductivity of the hydrogels increased with increasing PEDOT:PSS content. The flexible, stretchable and conductive properties endow the composite hydrogel sensor with a superior gauge factor of up to 4.4 (strain: 100%). Coupling the strain sensing capability to the flexibility, good mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity, we consider that the designed PVA/PEDOT:PSS composite hydrogels have promising applications in wearable devices, such as flexible electronic skin and sensitive strain sensors.     

A pH‐sensitive,strong double‐network hydrogel: Poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylates–poly(acrylic acid)

We here describe new double network (DN) hydrogels with excellent mechanical strength and high sensitivity to pH changes. The first polymer network has a bottle brush structure and is formed from oligo‐monomers of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA). Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) is used as the second network. This double network features strong intermolecular interactions between the neutral poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains of PPEGMA and the non‐ionized carboxylic acid groups of the PAA second network. When immersed in solutions with a pH below ～4 the DN hydrogels have a low swelling ratio and are opaque as a result of solvent‐polymer phase separation driven by the formation of dense hydrogen‐bonded clusters. The compression strength (～8 MPa) is at least 14 times higher than the analogous single networks. When immersed in solutions with a pH >4, the hydrogels are transparent and exhibit a high swelling ratio with a compression strength of ～1 MPa. The PEG side chain length can be readily controlled without greatly altering the overall DN topology by choosing PEGMA monomers having different PEG side chain lengths. Longer PEG side branches give higher compression and tensile strengths at pH <4 when hydrogen bonded clusters form. The robust nature of these DN gels over a wide pH range may be useful for applications such as artificial muscles and controlled release devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Chemical–physical behavior of hydrogels of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(ethylene glycol)

New hydrogels based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) of different degrees of hydrolysis were synthesized. To form the network the PEG was modified at their ends with acyl chloride groups to be used as the crosslinking agent. The compositions of the hydrogels were between 50% and 90% by weight of PEG and PVA of various degrees of hydrolysis were used. It was found that the degree of hydrolysis of the PVA and the PEG content influence the equilibrium water content of the hydrogel. The process of swelling of all the hydrogels prepared followed a second-order kinetics.     

A simple route to interpenetrating network hydrogel with high mechanical strength

A simple two-step method was introduced to improve the hydrogel mechanical strength by forming an interpenetrating network (IPN). For this purpose, we synthesized polyacrylate/polyacrylate (PAC/PAC), polyacrylate/polyacrylamide (PAC/PAM), polyacrylamide/polyacrylamide (PAM/PAM) and polyacrylamide/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PAM/PVA) IPN hydrogels. The PAC/PAC IPN and PAC/PAM IPN hydrogels showed compressive strength of 70 and 160 kPa, respectively. For the PAM/PAM IPN and PAM/PVA IPN hydrogels, they exhibited excellent tensile strength of 1.2 and 2.8 MPa, and elongations at break of 1750% and 3300%, respectively. A strain relaxation was also observed in the case of PAM series IPN hydrogels. From FTIR, TGA and SEM measurements, we confirmed that physical entanglement, hydrogen bonds and chemical crosslinking played major roles in improving hydrogel strength and toughening. The two-step technique contributes to the understanding of ideal networks, provides a universal strategy for designing high mechanical strength hydrogels, and opening up the biomedical application of hydrogels.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels with rapid response to temperature changes

A series of thermosensitive and fast-response poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels were prepared by incorporating PVA into cross-linked PNIPA to form a semi-interpenetrating polymeric network (semi-IPN). Compared to the conventional PNIPA hydrogel, the semi-IPN hydrogels thus prepared exhibit significantly faster response rates and undergo full deswelling in 1 min (lose about 95% water within 1 min) when the temperature is raised above their lower critical solution temperature, and have larger equilibrium swelling ratios at room temperature. These improved properties are attributed to the incorporation of PVA, which forms water-releasing channels and results in increased hydrophilicity, into the PNIPA hydrogel networks.     

Molecular model for toughening in double-network hydrogels

A molecular mechanism is proposed for the toughness enhancement observed in double-network (DN) hydrogels prepared from poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAMPS) polyelectrolyte network and poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) linear polymer. It is an extension of the phenomenological model set forth recently by Gong et al. ( Macromolecules 2007, 40, 6658- 6664 ). This mechanism rationalizes the changes in molecular structure of the DN gel constituents observed via in situ neutron scattering measurements, the composition dependence of the solution viscosity, and the thermodynamic interaction parameters of PAMPS and PAAm molecules obtained previously from neutron scattering studies. More specifically, this proposed mechanism provides an explanation for the observed periodic compositional fluctuations in the micrometer range induced by large strain deformation.