Hydrothermal Conditioning of Physical Hydrogels Prepared from a Midblock-Sulfonated Multiblock Copolymer

Journal Article · Tue Jan 24 04:00:00 UTC 2017 · Macromolecular Rapid Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.201600666 · OSTI ID:1399270

Mineart, Kenneth P. ^[1]; Dickerson, Joshua D. ^[1]; Love, Dillon M. ^[1]; Lee, Byeongdu ^[2]; Zuo, Xiaobing ^[2]; Spontak, Richard J. ^[1]

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1. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Since nanostructured amphiphilic macromolecules capable of affording high ion and water transport are becoming increasingly important in a wide range of contemporary energy and environmental technologies, the swelling kinetics and temperature dependence of water uptake are investigated in a series of midblock-sulfonated thermoplastic elastomers. Upon self-assembly, these materials maintain a stable hydrogel network in the presence of a polar liquid. In this study, real-time water-sorption kinetics in copolymer films prepared by different casting solvents are elucidated by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and gravimetric measurements, which directly correlate nanostructural changes with macroscopic swelling to establish fundamental structure-property behavior. By monitoring the equilibrium swelling capacity of these materials over a range of temperatures, an unexpected transition in the vicinity of 50 degrees C has been discovered. Furthermore, depending on copolymer morphology and degree of sulfonation, hydrothermal conditioning of specimens to temperatures above this transition permits retention of superabsorbent swelling at ambient temperature.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: North Carolina State University; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1399270
• Journal Information: Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Journal Name: Macromolecular Rapid Communications Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 38; ISSN 1022-1336
• Publisher: WileyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English