Tough chitosan/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)/cellulose nanofibrils/ethylene glycol nanocomposite organohydrogel with tolerance to hot and cold environments

Simultaneously achieving good mechanical properties and high tolerance to hot and cold environments in hydrogel materials remains a challenge. In this work, ethylene glycol (EG) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were introduced into chitosan/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) double-network hydrogels to improve their toughness and tolerance to hot and cold environments. The effect of EG and CNFs on the properties of the hydrogels was studied respectively. EG increases the tolerance of the hydrogel to hot and cold environments. However, EG had a negative effect on the mechanical properties of hydrogels. In addition, CNFs substantially enhanced the strength and toughness of the chitosan/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid)/EG organohydrogels. Finally, with the cooperative action of EG and CNFs, high-strength and tough organohydrogels (tensile strength = 0.71 MPa, elongation at break = 787.2%) with a high tolerance to hot and cold environments (-23 °C to 60 °C) were obtained. Further, EG enabled the organohydrogel to revert to its original state after drying at 60 °C. This paper provides a new route to prepare high-strength and tough organohydrogels with a high tolerance to hot and cold environments.