1. Dual-Crosslink Physical Hydrogels with High Toughness Based on Synergistic Hydrogen Bonding and Hydrophobic Interactions
- Author
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Xiaohua Chang, Zi Liang Wu, Pengju Pan, Guorong Shan, Heqing Cao, Yongzhong Bao, Ye Tian, Yuhui Geng, and Jian Zhou
- Subjects
Polymers and Plastics ,Polymers ,Supramolecular chemistry ,Pyrimidinones ,macromolecular substances ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,Hydrophobic effect ,law ,Materials Chemistry ,medicine ,Non-covalent interactions ,Crystallization ,Alkyl ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Chemistry ,Hydrogen bond ,Organic Chemistry ,technology, industry, and agriculture ,Hydrogels ,Hydrogen Bonding ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Cross-Linking Reagents ,Acrylates ,Chemical engineering ,Self-healing hydrogels ,Swelling ,medicine.symptom ,0210 nano-technology ,Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions - Abstract
Constructing dual or multiple noncovalent crosslinks is highly effective to improve the mechanical and stimuli-responsive properties of supramolecular physical hydrogels, due to the synergistic effects of different noncovalent bonds. Herein, a series of tough physical hydrogels are prepared by solution casting and subsequently swelling the films of poly(ureidopyrimidone methacrylate-co-stearyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid). The hydrophobic interactions between crystallizable alkyl chains and the quadruple hydrogen bonds between ureidopyrimidone (UPy) motifs serve as the dual crosslinks of hydrogels. Synergistic effects between the hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds render the hydrogels excellent mechanical properties, with tensile breaking stress up to 4.6 MPa and breaking strain up to 680%. The UPy motifs promote the crystallization of alkyl chains and the hydrophobic alkyl chains also stabilize UPy-UPy hydrogen bonding. The resultant hydrogels are responsive to multiple external stimuli, such as temperature, pH, and ion; therefore, they show the thermal-induced dual and metal ion-induced triple shape memory behaviors.
- Published
- 2018
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