TY  - JOUR
AU  - Mihajlovic, Marko
AU  - Staropoli, Mariapaola
AU  - Appavou, Marie-Sousai
AU  - Wyss, Hans M.
AU  - Pyckhout-Hintzen, Wim
AU  - Sijbesma, Rint P.
TI  - Tough Supramolecular Hydrogel Based on Strong Hydrophobic Interactions in a Multiblock Segmented Copolymer
JO  - Macromolecules
VL  - 50
IS  - 8
SN  - 1520-5835
CY  - Washington, DC
PB  - Soc.
M1  - FZJ-2017-03439
SP  - 3333 - 3346
PY  - 2017
AB  - We report the preparation and structural and mechanical characterization of a tough supramolecular hydrogel, based exclusively on hydrophobic association. The system consists of a multiblock, segmented copolymer of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic dimer fatty acid (DFA) building blocks. A series of copolymers containing 2K, 4K, and 8K PEG were prepared. Upon swelling in water, a network is formed by self-assembly of hydrophobic DFA units in micellar domains, which act as stable physical cross-link points. The resulting hydrogels are noneroding and contain 75–92 wt % of water at swelling equilibrium. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements showed that the aggregation number of micelles ranges from 2 × 102 to 6 × 102 DFA units, increasing with PEG molecular weight. Mechanical characterization indicated that the hydrogel containing PEG 2000 is mechanically very stable and tough, possessing a tensile toughness of 4.12 MJ/m3. The high toughness, processability, and ease of preparation make these hydrogels very attractive for applications where mechanical stability and load bearing features of soft materials are required.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000400233000027
C6  - 28469284
DO  - DOI:10.1021/acs.macromol.7b00319
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/829811
ER  -