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Synthesis and characterization of mechanically flexible and tough cellulose nanocrystals–polyacrylamide nanocomposite hydrogels

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Abstract

The unique combinations of hard and soft components with core/shell structures were proposed to synthesize high strength nanocomposite hydrogels. The elastomeric hydrogels containing rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) core and polyacrylamide shell were made from aqueous solutions via free radical polymerization in the absence of chemical cross-links. The obtained hydrogels possessed greater tensile strength and elongation ratio when compared with chemically cross-linked counterparts. Oscillatory shear experiments indicated that CNCs interacted with polymer matrix via both chemical and physical interactions and contributed to the rubbery elasticity of the hydrogels. The nanocomposite hydrogels were more viscous than the chemical hydrogels, suggesting the addition of CNC led to the increase of energy dissipating and viscoelastic properties. The network structure model was proposed and it suggested that the high extensibilities and fracture stresses were related to the well-defined network structures with low cross-linking density and lack of noncovalent interactions among polymer chains, which may promote the rearrangements of network structure at high deformations.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by Beijing Forestry University Young Scientist Fund (BLX2011010), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (124199, TD2011-10, YX2011-4, JD2011-2), National Natural Science Foundation of China (30901139).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomass Chemistry and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

    Jun Yang, Ming-Guo Ma, Xue-Ming Zhang, Feng Xu & Run-Cang Sun

  2. College of Materials Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

    Jun Yang, Chun-Rui Han, Jiu-Fang Duan, Ming-Guo Ma, Xue-Ming Zhang, Feng Xu & Run-Cang Sun

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  1. Jun Yang
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  2. Chun-Rui Han
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  3. Jiu-Fang Duan
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  6. Feng Xu
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  7. Run-Cang Sun
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Correspondence to Jun Yang.

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Yang, J., Han, CR., Duan, JF. et al. Synthesis and characterization of mechanically flexible and tough cellulose nanocrystals–polyacrylamide nanocomposite hydrogels. Cellulose 20, 227–237 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9841-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9841-y

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