Synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels using rodlike polysiloxane having acrylamido groups as a new cross-linking agent

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels using rodlike polysiloxane having acrylamido groups as a new cross-linking agent which had a regular higher-ordered structure. The cross-linking agents were prepared by reaction of acryloyl chloride with amino groups of the rodlike polysiloxane in the presence of triethylamine in water/methanol mixed solvent. The structures of the cross-linking agents were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectra, as well as by XRD measurement. Free-radical polymerization of acrylamide monomer in the presence of these cross-linking agents was performed using potassium persulfate as an initiator in degassed water under argon atmosphere at 60 °C to form transparent and elastic organic–inorganic hybrid hydrogels, which contained water weighing more than 90% of the materials. The obtained hybrid hydrogels sustained compressive stresses in the range of 237–696 kPa and their fracture strains were 81–93%.