A simple coordination strategy for preparing a complex hydrophobic association hydrogel

Hydrophobic association hydrogels (HA gels) have been proven to be one of the most popular research interests in physically crosslinking hydrogels. Meanwhile, the association mode of hydrophobic monomers and the structure of the hydrophobic microdomain is crucial to their mechanical properties. In this study, we designed high-performance complex HA gels by novel complex micelles and acrylamide without small-molecule surfactants. The complex micelles were prepared by a simple complex of two polymerizable amphiphilic dodecanol polyoxyethylene (n) acrylate monomers (alcohol ethoxylate (n)-acryloyl chloride, AEO-3-AC, AEO-23-AC). The coordination effect between these amphiphilic monomers with a large hydrophilic difference greatly improved the strength of the gels. The mechanical properties, including the breaking elongation ratio and tensile strength, could be easily adjusted through the variation of the complex ratio in a relatively broad range. The mechanical strength of the resulting hydrogels with composite micelles were improved almost 200% over those of the hydrogels having either AEO-3-AC or AEO-23-AC. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy testing revealed the sizes and morphologies of the complex hydrogels and their composite micelles. The discovery of the coordination provides a new route for preparing high-performance hydrogels. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46400.