Modulating superabsorbent polymer properties by adjusting the amphiphilicity

Abstract

The role of amphiphilicity in polysaccharide-based superabsorbent polymers is paramount in determining material properties. While the performance of freeze-dried polymers is improved by maximizing hydrophilicity, this may not be the case for evaporative-dried polymers. In this study, four diglycidyl ether crosslinkers, with varying chain lengths and amphiphilicities, were used to synthesize a series of evaporative-dried carboxymethyl cellulose-based superabsorbent films. Through structural and physiochemical characterization, the effect of amphiphilicity on swelling and mechanical properties was established. Contrary to freeze-dried polymers, it was found that the addition of hydrophobic moieties by crosslinking with novel poly(propylene glycol) diglycidyl ether crosslinkers increased the swelling performance of evaporative-dried polymers. By adding hydrophobic functional groups, a reduction in inter-chain hydrogen bonding occurs during evaporative-drying, reducing the degree of hornification and decreasing the entropy requirement for water uptake. By optimizing the amphiphilic ratio, a poly(propylene glycol)-carboxymethyl cellulose polymer achieved a swelling capacity of 182 g/g which is competitive with freeze-dried cellulose-based hydrogels. The mechanical properties of these films improved with the addition of the crosslinkers, with glycerol-carboxymethyl cellulose polymers achieving a tensile strength of 39 MPa and a Young’s Modulus of 4.0 GPa, indicating their potential application as low-cost, swellable films.

Preparation and Characterization of Conductive/Self-Healing Resin Nanocomposites Based on Tetrafunctional Furan-Functionalized Aniline Trimer Modified Graphene

“…Due to the addition reaction between the amino and epoxy groups, the absorption peaks of the amino and epoxy groups in TFAF disappeared, and the generated -OH group by the formation reaction appeared at 3350 cm −1 . From the NMR hydrogen spectrum of FGE (Figure 5a), the signal peaks with chemical shifts at 2.65 ppm and 2.75 ppm are characteristic peaks of protons (7) in the ethylene oxide ring, while the signal peaks with chemical shifts at 3.42 ppm and 3.85 ppm are characteristic peaks of -CH 2 (5) in the ethylene oxide ring. The signal peak with chemical shift at 3.22 ppm is the characteristic peak of the proton of -CH adjacent to the ethylene oxide ring (6).…”

“…In recent years, polymers with self-healing capabilities have attracted increasing research interest in developing various high-performance materials due to their ability to repair damage and maintain mechanical properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The Diels-Alder (DA) reaction, known for its excellent thermal reversibility, is widely used in the design of self-healing materials [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Advancements in Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogels: Sustainable Solutions across Industries

“…Innovation in material science is evident in the ongoing development and optimization of cellulose-based hydrogels [ 23 ]. As we look towards the future, the potential of cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels in various industries is immense, offering a pathway to more sustainable solutions.…”

Preparation and Characterization of Conductive/Self-Healing Resin Nanocomposites Based on Tetrafunctional Furan-Functionalized Aniline Trimer Modified Graphene

“…In recent years, polymers with self-healing capabilities have attracted increasing research interest in develop various high-performance materials due to their ability to repair damage and maintain mechanical properties [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The Diels-Alder (DA) reaction, known for its excellent thermal reversibility, is widely used in the design of self-healing materials [7][8][9][10][11].…”