TY - JOUR
T1 - Tough supramolecular hydrogel based on strong hydrophobic interactions in a multiblock segmented copolymer
AU - Mihajlovic, M.
AU - Staropoli, M.
AU - Appavou, M.-S.
AU - Wyss, H.M.
AU - Pyckhout-Hintzen, W.
AU - Sijbesma, R.P.
PY - 2017/4/25
Y1 - 2017/4/25
N2 - We report the preparation and structural and mechanical characterization of a tough supramolecular hydrogel, based exclusively on hydrophobic association. The system consists of a multiblock, segmented copolymer of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic dimer fatty acid (DFA) building blocks. A series of copolymers containing 2K, 4K, and 8K PEG were prepared. Upon swelling in water, a network is formed by self-assembly of hydrophobic DFA units in micellar domains, which act as stable physical cross-link points.
The resulting hydrogels are noneroding and contain 75−92 wt % of water at swelling equilibrium. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements showed that the aggregation number of micelles ranges from 2 × 102 to 6 × 102 DFA units, increasing with PEG molecular weight. Mechanical characterization indicated that the hydrogel containing PEG 2000 is mechanically very stable and tough, possessing a tensile toughness of 4.12 MJ/m3. The high toughness, processability, and ease of preparation make these hydrogels very attractive for applications where mechanical stability and load bearing features of soft materials are required.
AB - We report the preparation and structural and mechanical characterization of a tough supramolecular hydrogel, based exclusively on hydrophobic association. The system consists of a multiblock, segmented copolymer of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic dimer fatty acid (DFA) building blocks. A series of copolymers containing 2K, 4K, and 8K PEG were prepared. Upon swelling in water, a network is formed by self-assembly of hydrophobic DFA units in micellar domains, which act as stable physical cross-link points.
The resulting hydrogels are noneroding and contain 75−92 wt % of water at swelling equilibrium. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements showed that the aggregation number of micelles ranges from 2 × 102 to 6 × 102 DFA units, increasing with PEG molecular weight. Mechanical characterization indicated that the hydrogel containing PEG 2000 is mechanically very stable and tough, possessing a tensile toughness of 4.12 MJ/m3. The high toughness, processability, and ease of preparation make these hydrogels very attractive for applications where mechanical stability and load bearing features of soft materials are required.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018626683&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00319
DO - 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00319
M3 - Article
C2 - 28469284
SN - 0024-9297
VL - 50
SP - 3333
EP - 3346
JO - Macromolecules
JF - Macromolecules
IS - 8
ER -