Structure and relaxation in cellulose hydrogels

ABSTRACT Cellulose‐based hydrogels show great potential for a wide range of applications. However, the structure of these hydrated gels is not fully understood. The impact of moisture on the structure and stability of cellulose based hydrogels is reported in this article. Analytical data based on GPC, NMR, and rheology are discussed. It was found that moisture‐induced gelation greatly reduces the crystallinity of the hydrogels, and the release of water from the hydrogels leads to permanent structural changes in the network structure due to the reformation of hydrogen bonding. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 42071.