Synthesis and properties of hectorite/poly(AM/IA) nanocomposite hydrogels with high gel strength

A novel hectorite/poly(AM/IA)nanocomposite hydrogel was synthesized by inverse microemulsion polymerization. The influence of hectorite amount on water absorbency rate, gel strength and shear-resistance was investigated. Dynamic viscoelasticity behaviour of the nanocomposite hydrogels was also studied. The nanocomposite hydrogels showed suitable water absorbency and shear-resistance, high gel strength, solid-like behaviour in the whole oscillation frequency region and enhanced viscoelastic behaviours under high stress. TEM indicated that the as-synthesized hydrogel particles were regular and spherical in shape with an average particle size of 43 nm in the range of 30-65 nm.