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Superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites based on starch-g-poly(sodium acrylate) matrix filled with cellulose nanowhiskers

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Abstract

Superabsorbents hydrogel nanocomposites based on starch-g-poly(sodium acrylate) and cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) were synthesized. A set of experiments was performed to evaluate the influence of some factors such as NaAc/starch mass ratio, crosslinker, and nanowhiskers amount in the swelling capacity and swelling kinetics. Increasing the NaAc/starch mass ratio up to 7 leads to an increase in the water uptake at a maximum value, however, higher ratios decreased that value due to the increase of crosslinking points. Similarly, the incorporation of CNWs up to 10 wt% provided an improvement in the swelling due to the hydrophilic groups from cellobiose units. Further, the incorporation of CNWs diminishes the water uptake. Besides, the CNWs improved the mechanical properties. SEM images showed that CNWs increase the average porous size of composites. The composites presented good responsive behavior in relation to pH and salt presence allowing those materials suitable for many potential applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thanks the financial support by FUNCAP (BPI 0280-106/08 and PIL-139.01.00/09), CNPq (Proc. 507308/2010-7), and CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil

    Cristiane Spagnol, Francisco H. A. Rodrigues, Antonio G. B. Pereira, André R. Fajardo, Adley F. Rubira & Edvani C. Muniz

  2. Coordenação de Química, Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú, Avenida da Universidade, 850, Campus da Betânia, 62040-370, Sobral, CE, Brazil

    Francisco H. A. Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Cristiane Spagnol
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  2. Francisco H. A. Rodrigues
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  3. Antonio G. B. Pereira
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  4. André R. Fajardo
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  5. Adley F. Rubira
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  6. Edvani C. Muniz
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Correspondence to André R. Fajardo.

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Spagnol, C., Rodrigues, F.H.A., Pereira, A.G.B. et al. Superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites based on starch-g-poly(sodium acrylate) matrix filled with cellulose nanowhiskers. Cellulose 19, 1225–1237 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9711-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9711-7

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