Frontal copolymerization synthesis and property characterization of starch-graft-poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels.
Recently, a considerable amount of research has centered on uniquely structured polymers synthesized through self-propagating frontal polymerization. The obtained polymer materials have better features than those obtained by using the classical batch route. The additional advantages are short reaction times and low cost. This work describes the first frontal polymerization synthesis of a graft copolymer superabsorbent hydrogel of acrylic acid onto starch at high monomer and initiator concentration. The effects of varying the relative amounts of the reaction components on the most relevant parameters relating to frontal polymerization were explored. The front velocity dependence on initiator concentration could be fit to a power function. The temperature profiles were found to be very sharp with a maximum temperature below 150 degrees C, which was responsible for high monomer conversion. The ultimate properties of the product appear to depend on the polymerization front velocity and the temperature. The high-temperature and rapid temperature increase at the polymerization front led to products with interconnected porous structures caused by the evaporation of water. So, a fast-swelling, highly absorbing hydrogel with respect to batch polymerization was obtained.
Yan
Qing-Zhi
QZ
Laboratory of Special Ceramics and Powder Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhang
Wen-Feng
WF
Lu
Guo-Dong
GD
Su
Xin-Tai
XT
Ge
Chang-Chun
CC
D000042:Absorption; D000054:Acceleration; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D010316:Particle Size; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D020100:Hydrogels; D014867:Water; D013213:Starch