Thermoresponsive hydrogels of cellulose nanofibrils and triblock copolymers

• Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been utilized to synthesize triblock and star-block copolymers of quaternized poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (qPDMAEMA) and poly(di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PDEGMA). The block copolymers, that all contained a minimum of two charged blocks, were sequential adsorbed to negatively charged cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) in dilute water suspension, forming thermoresponsive hydrogels. The presence of more than one charge block allowed for the polymers to form permanent, physically crosslinked, gels when adsorbed to the CNF. The ability of the polymers to adsorb to CNF was confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), and the thermoresponsive properties of the gels were investigated by rheological measurements and gravimetric measurements. This method was shown to be promising for the facile, production of thermoresponsive hydrogels composed of CNF.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Polymerteknologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Polymer Technologies (hsv//eng)

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