The role of carboxylic comonomers on poly(acrylic acid)-based xerogel morphology, wetting time, and the thickening property

Hydrogels are cross-linked, three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymers that can absorb and swell in aqueous or other suitable media, significantly increasing the media's viscosity. While cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) microparticles are typically produced via homopolymerization with each repeat unit containing one carboxylic acid group, incorporating comonomers containing additional carboxylic groups like itaconic acid or maleic acid/anhydride into PAA xerogels modifies their morphology and zeta potential. This, in turn, influences hydrogel properties such as viscosity/swelling capacity, flowability, wetting time, and pH plateau due to the comonomers' varying pKa values. This paper discusses how carboxylic comonomers with different pka values affect particle morphology and mechanical properties, enabling the design of poly(acrylic acid)-based xerogels with optimal morphology and pH plateau.

کلیدواژه ها:

cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) ، carboxylic acid ، hydrogel ، thickener ، precipitation polymerization technique