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- Title
Enhanced Mechanical Properties of PVA Hydrogel by Low-Temperature Segment Self-Assembly vs. Freeze–Thaw Cycles.
- Authors
Wu, Fei; Gao, Jianfeng; Xiang, Yang; Yang, Jianming
- Abstract
The rapid and effective fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels with good mechanical properties is of great significance yet remains a huge challenge. The preparation of PVA hydrogels via the conventional cyclic freeze–thaw method is intricate and time-intensive. In this study, a pioneering approach involving the utilization of low-temperature continuous freezing is introduced to produce a novel PVA-ethylene glycol (EG) gel. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirm that with the assistance of EG, PVA molecular chains can self-assemble to generate an abundance of microcrystalline domains at low temperatures, thus improving the mechanical properties of PVA-EG gel. Remarkably, when the mass ratio of H2O/EG is 4:6, the gel's maximum tensile strength can reach 2.5 MPa, which is much higher than that of PVA gels prepared via the freeze–thaw method. The preparation process of PVA-EG gel is simple, and its properties are excellent, which will promote the wide application of PVA tough gel in many fields.
- Subjects
POLYVINYL alcohol; FREEZE-thaw cycles; HYDROGELS; SCANNING electron microscopy; MICROCRYSTALLINE polymers; X-ray diffraction; TENSILE strength; FOURIER transforms
- Publication
Polymers (20734360), 2023, Vol 15, Issue 18, p3782
- ISSN
2073-4360
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/polym15183782