Print Email Facebook Twitter Two Robust Strategies toward Hydrogels from Quenched Block Copolymer Nanofibrillar Micelles Title Two Robust Strategies toward Hydrogels from Quenched Block Copolymer Nanofibrillar Micelles Author Zhang, K. (TU Delft Materials and Environment; TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Suratkar, A.P. (TU Delft Applied Sciences) Vedaraman, S. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Lakshminarayanan, V. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Jennings, L. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Glazer, P.J. (TU Delft Resources & Recycling) van Esch, J.H. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Mendes, E. (TU Delft ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter) Faculty Applied Sciences Date 2018 Abstract While the formation of (tri)block copolymer hydrogels has been extensively investigated, such studies mostly focused on equilibrium self-assembling whereas the use of preformed structures as building blocks such as out of equilibrium, quenched, nanofibrillar micelles is still a challenge. Here, we demonstrate that quenched, ultralong polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) micelles can be used as robust precursors of hydrogels. Two cross-linking strategies, (i) thermal fusion of micellar cores and (ii) chemical cross-linking of preformed micellar coronas were studied. The gelation process and the structure of the micellar networks were investigated by in situ rheological measurements, confocal microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Direct observation of core fusion of preformed quenched micelles is provided validating this method as a robust gelation route. Using time sweep rheological experiments, it was found for both cross-linking methods that these 3D "mikado" gels are formed in three different stages, containing (1) initiation, (2) transition (growth), and (3) stabilization regimes. To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:9d1e8e96-16b1-4df4-a125-9568d526c6ac DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01158 ISSN 0024-9297 Source Macromolecules, 51 (15), 5788-5797 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2018 K. Zhang, A.P. Suratkar, S. Vedaraman, V. Lakshminarayanan, L. Jennings, P.J. Glazer, J.H. van Esch, E. Mendes Files PDF acs.macromol.8b01158.pdf 10.38 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:9d1e8e96-16b1-4df4-a125-9568d526c6ac/datastream/OBJ/view