The Preparation and Simple Analysis of a Clay Nanoparticle Composite Hydrogel

• David S. Warren ^[1] ; Sam P. H. Sutherland ^[1] ; Jacqueline Y. Kao ^[2] ; Geoffrey R. Weal ^[1] ; Sean M. Mackay ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Otago

     University of Otago

     Nueva Zelanda

     
  2. [2] Science Knowledge Ltd., Taiwan
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 94, Nº 11, 2017, págs. 1772-1779
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Samples of a composite hydrogel incorporating clay (Laponite XLG and S-482) nanoparticles were prepared using N-isopropylacrylamide. The hydrogels were formed via a radical-initiated addition polymerization using potassium persulfate and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine. Students then measured the force required to stretch the gels and obtained Young’s modulus for each system, finding the S-482-based hydrogels to be more elastic. The exercise was developed by students in the chemistry department for use in the Otago University Advanced Sciences Academy (OUASSA), a program run by the University for final-year high school students from rural and low-decile (low-socioeconomic) schools.