Abstract
In this study, a cooperative model has been proposed for the double network (DN) hydrogel, which synchronously undergoes heuristic swelling and inhibitive micellization by the ionic dissociation of polyelectrolyte. Flory-Huggins solution theory is initially employed to identify the working mechanism of dielectric constants on swelling behavior of the DN hydrogel. Then a free-energy function is introduced to formulate the constitutive relationship of the DN hydrogels, in which the first hydrotropic network undergoes a heuristic swelling and the second hydrophobic network undergoes an inhibitive micellization. Finally, the proposed model has been verified using the experimental results reported in the literature. A good agreement between the theoretical results and experimental ones has been achieved. This study provides a fundamental approach to formulate the constitutive relationship and to understand the cooperative dynamics of two types of networks in DN hydrogels induced by the polyelectrolyte.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 122039 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Polymer |
Volume | 186 |
Early online date | 29 Nov 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 9 Jan 2020 |
Keywords
- Double network (DN) hydrogels
- ionic dissociation
- free energy function
- Ionic dissociation
- Free energy function