Improvement in Mechanical Performance of Anionic Hydrogels Using Full‐Interpenetrating Polymer Network Reinforced with Graphene Oxide Nanosheets

Abstract

ABSTRACTWeak mechanical possession is one of the limiting factors in application of hydrogels. To modify this inherent disadvantage, different approaches have been studied including synthesizing interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) and nanocomposite hydrogels. So, this study has focused on preparation of a novel full‐IPN structure based on anionic monomers of 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid/acrylic acid–sodium acrylate via facile solution polymerization technique in an aqueous media with incorporation of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. Mechanical performance of materials in the “as‐prepared condition” and “swollen state” was characterized via tensile, compression, and rheology tests, respectively. Significant improvement of both elastic and storage modulus (ca. four times higher than pure hydrogel) is observed in this approach. Also dynamic mechanical thermal analysis results revealed that incorporation of high GO content (0.5 wt%) can suppress formation of full‐IPN structure, whereas low GO content has not such an effect, interestingly. Moreover, these novel hydrogels could easily be stretched or compressed followed by full recovery after unloading.