Synthesis and Properties of Polyacrylamide-Based Conducting Gels with Enhanced Mechanical Strength

Abstract

A nanocomposite conducting hydrogel, polyacrylamide/MWNT/clay (abbreviated as PAM/MWNT/clay), prepared through in situ free radical aqueous polymerization and crosslinked by both clay, as a functional physical crosslinker, and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a chemical crosslinker, is reported. The morphology of the gels was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mechanical properties and electrical conductivity were also studied. The results show that the prepared hydrogels had the expected chemical components, with a highly porous structure, and the gels also showed high mechanical strength. The mechanical strength and electrical conductivity value increased with increasing content of multi-walled nanotube (MWNT), and decreased with increasing content of water.

Keywords:

• electrical properties
• hydrogels
• mechanical properties
• MWNT

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation (No. 50673017), the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (No. B603), and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (No. 111-2-04) of China.