Anisotropic swelling and mechanical behavior of composite bacterial cellulose–poly(acrylamide or acrylamide–sodium acrylate) hydrogels

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose–polyacrylamide (BC–PAAm) composite hydrogels are prepared by synthesis of PAAm networks inside the BC matrices. The behavior of these gels and of the ionic ones obtained via partial hydrolysis of BC–PAAm gels is studied under swelling and compressive deformation conditions. The dependences of the hydrogels’ properties on the BC matrix preparation conditions, gel synthesis conditions and the BC content in the hydrogel compositions are studied. Two types of BC gel pellicle are used in the hydrogel synthesis, namely matrix pellicles subjected to pre-pressing (samples of series A) and those not subjected to any mechanical actions before synthesis (series B samples) containing about 99% water. The effect of anisotropic swelling of type A hydrogels is detected. The type B specimens swell isotropically. Both types of hydrogel exhibit substantial anisotropy of their mechanical properties, apparent in different shapes of compression stress–strain curves of samples cut out from the gel plates in various directions. Composite hydrogels show superb mechanical properties, including compression strength up to 10 MPa and the ability to withstand long-term cyclic stresses (up to 2000–6000 cycles) without substantial reduction of mechanical properties.