Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Unlocking Gel-powers: Exploring Rheological Marvels of Acrylamide/Sodium Alginate Double-Network Hydrogels

Version 1 : Received: 31 May 2023 / Approved: 31 May 2023 / Online: 31 May 2023 (14:35:55 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Wang, S.-C.; Du, S.-T.; Hashmi, S.; Cui, S.-M.; Li, L.; Handschuh-Wang, S.; Zhou, X.; Stadler, F.J. Understanding Gel-Powers: Exploring Rheological Marvels of Acrylamide/Sodium Alginate Double-Network Hydrogels. Molecules 2023, 28, 4868. Wang, S.-C.; Du, S.-T.; Hashmi, S.; Cui, S.-M.; Li, L.; Handschuh-Wang, S.; Zhou, X.; Stadler, F.J. Understanding Gel-Powers: Exploring Rheological Marvels of Acrylamide/Sodium Alginate Double-Network Hydrogels. Molecules 2023, 28, 4868.

Abstract

Hydrogels, soft materials with 3D polymer networks in aqueous solution, have been developed for engineering and bio-related fields. However, these conventional hydrogels are weak and brittle due to lack of energy dissipation mechanisms. Recently, dual-network hydrogels have been proposed, combining rigid and flexible networks and exhibiting high strength, stretchability, and toughness. This paper explores the rheological properties of dual-network hydrogels based on acrylamide and sodium alginate under large deformations. This dual network is a combination of a covalently crosslinked polyacrylamide network and a supramolecular crosslinked sodium alginate network at the presence of divalent calcium cations. Small and large amplitude oscillatory shear methods with Fourier transform rheology, stress decomposition method, and Chebyshev polynomial analysis of large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) data were employed to evaluate non-linearity limit, toughness, and network rigidity. The concentration of calcium ions affects (concentrations 0-80 mg/ml) the nonlinear transition and limit points, and all gel samples exhibit strain hardening, shear thickening, and shear densification.

Keywords

Acrylamide; Sodium alginate; Double network hydrogel; Large amplitude oscillatory shear; Fourier transform rheology

Subject

Chemistry and Materials Science, Polymers and Plastics

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