The Preparation and Simple Analysis of a Clay Nanoparticle Composite Hydrogel

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.