Characterization of methacrylated alginate and acrylic monomers as versatile SAPs

Arn Mignon; Jolien Vermeulen; Geert-Jan Graulus; José Martins; Peter Dubruel; Nele De Belie; Sandra Van Vlierberghe

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.040

Characterization of methacrylated alginate and acrylic monomers as versatile SAPs

Carbohydr Polym. 2017 Jul 15:168:44-51. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.040. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

Authors

Arn Mignon¹, Jolien Vermeulen², Geert-Jan Graulus³, José Martins⁴, Peter Dubruel⁵, Nele De Belie⁶, Sandra Van Vlierberghe⁷

Affiliations

¹ Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium; Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4-bis, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Arn.Mignon@ugent.be.
² Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Joliever.Vermeulen@gmail.com.
³ Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4-bis, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Geertjan.Graulus@ugent.be.
⁴ NMR and Structure Analysis Unit, Department of Organic Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4-bis, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Jose.Martins@UGent.be.
⁵ Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4-bis, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Peter.Dubruel@ugent.be.
⁶ Magnel Laboratory for Concrete Research, Department of Structural Engineering, Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 904, B-9052, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Nele.DeBelie@ugent.be.
⁷ Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, Building S4-bis, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Sandra.VanVlierberghe@ugent.be.

PMID: 28457462
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.040

Abstract

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) based on polysaccharides, especially alginate, could offer a valuable solution in a plethora of applications going from drug delivery to self-healing concrete. This has already been proven with both calcium alginate and methacrylated alginate combined with acrylic acid. In this manuscript, the effect of varying the degree of methacrylation and use of a combination of acrylic acid and acrylamide is investigated to explore the effects on the relevant SAP characteristics. The materials showed high gel fractions and a strong swelling capacity up to 630g_water/g_SAP, especially for superabsorbent polymers with a low degree of substitution. The SAPs also showed only a limited hydrolysis in aqueous and cement filtrate solutions.

Keywords: Acrylates; Alginate; Moisture uptake; Substitution degree; Superabsorbent polymers; Swelling.