Polymer hydrogels have been used extensively as super-absorbent materials. These materials can swell up to many times their own weight in water; swelling ratios > 1000 are not uncommon. However, such super-absorbent hydrogels usually possess low toughness. In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of a different type of polymer hydrogel based on an acrylamide derivative. These gels form even in the absence of multifunctional cross-linkable monomers. This is due to self-crosslinking that occurs when interchain covalent bonds are formed between chemical moieties on the growing polymer chains. Gels are formed when as little as 5 wt% monomer is present and the gels are highly stretchable. Unswollen gels can be stretched up to several times their original size. The increased toughness of these gels compared to conventional hydrogels is attributed to a uniform distribution of cross-links throughout the gel. Even in the swollen state, these gels retain a high level of toughness when compared to conventional cross-linked gels. Details on the synthesis and characterization of these gels will be presented in this talk. 

Highly stretchable and highly absorbent polymer hydrogels

246th National Meeting (2013)

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