Effect of Cross-Linking Degree on Hydrogels Using Surfactant Detergent as Template

To avoid the formation of layer-pore structure and flocculation caused by the excessive introduction of nonionic surfactant detergent polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl ether (Brij58) into poly N-isopropylacrylamide/inorganic nanoclay hectorite hydrogels network (PLH hydrogels), inorganic nanoclay hectorite content, severed as physical cross-linker, was increased from 1wt% to 3wt%. The morphology, temperature- responsibility, capacity of water absorption and swelling kinetics of resulting PHL hydrogels were investigated by SEM, DSC and Gravimetric method, respectively. It was found that PLH hydrogels would keep well honeycomb-like pore with increasing hectorite content. Furthermore, PLH hydrogels exhibited good temperature sensitivity regardless of physical cross-linker content.