A simple coordination strategy for preparing a complex hydrophobic association hydrogel

Abstract

Hydrophobic association hydrogels (HA gels) have been proven to be one of the most popular research interests in physically crosslinking hydrogels. Meanwhile, the association mode of hydrophobic monomers and the structure of the hydrophobic microdomain is crucial to their mechanical properties. In this study, we designed high‐performance complex HA gels by novel complex micelles and acrylamide without small‐molecule surfactants. The complex micelles were prepared by a simple complex of two polymerizable amphiphilic dodecanol polyoxyethylene (n) acrylate monomers (alcohol ethoxylate (n)‐acryloyl chloride, AEO‐3‐AC, AEO‐23‐AC). The coordination effect between these amphiphilic monomers with a large hydrophilic difference greatly improved the strength of the gels. The mechanical properties, including the breaking elongation ratio and tensile strength, could be easily adjusted through the variation of the complex ratio in a relatively broad range. The mechanical strength of the resulting hydrogels with composite micelles were improved almost 200% over those of the hydrogels having either AEO‐3–AC or AEO‐23–AC. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy testing revealed the sizes and morphologies of the complex hydrogels and their composite micelles. The discovery of the coordination provides a new route for preparing high‐performance hydrogels. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46400.

Highly Strong and Tough Double‐Crosslinked Hydrogel Electrolyte for Flexible Supercapacitors

“…The amphiphilic monomer AEO-9-AC was synthesized according to the method reported in our previous article. [23] Typically, AEO-9 (0.10 mol), TEA (0.15 mol) and 50 ml THF solvent were mixed in a 500 ml round flask, then stirred for 2 h to obtain a homogeneous solution. Subsequently, AC (0.20 mol) diluted in 15 ml THF was added drop-wise in 1 hour.…”

Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Self-healing Hydrogels

“…Hydrophobic interactions occur as a consequence of aggregative hydrophobes in aqueous media. In many cases of self-healing hydrogels based on hydrophobic interactions, the surfactant micelles (Gulyuz and Okay, 2015 ; Liu, Y. et al, 2018 ) or liposomes (Rao et al, 2011 ; Hao et al, 2013 ) are employed as crosslinking points to construct the polymer chains comprising both hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers. For example, the self-healing hydrogel could form via micellar copolymerization of hydrophobic monomer stearyl methacrylate and hydrophilic monomer acrylamide in the aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles (Tuncaboylu et al, 2011 , 2012a , b ).…”

Enhancement of mechanical property and absorption capability of hydrophobically associated polyacrylamide hydrogels by adding cellulose nanofiber

“…It possesses shape memory and autonomously selfhealing properties [20][21][22][23]. And one-pot method is the most common and efficient way to fabricate HA hydrogels [24,25]. In this way, some of the hydrophobic monomers and reactive agents will aggregate into hydrophobically micelles once assess to deionized water.…”