Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants

Dezotti, Rafael S.; Furtado, Laíse M.; Yee, Márcio; Valera, Ticiane S.; Balaji, Krishnasamy; Ando, Rômulo A.; Petri, Denise F. S.

doi:10.3390/gels7030118

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Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants

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Fundamental Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo 05508-000, SP, Brazil

Marine Science Department, Federal University of São Paulo, Carvalho de Mendonça 144, Santos 11070-100, SP, Brazil

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Mello Moraes 2463, São Paulo 05508-030, SP, Brazil

⁴

Polymer Engineering Laboratory, PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research, Neelambur, Coimbatore 641062, India

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Academic Editor: Maria Valentina Dinu

Gels 2021, 7(3), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030118

Received: 19 July 2021 / Revised: 5 August 2021 / Accepted: 5 August 2021 / Published: 11 August 2021

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cryogels)

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Abstract

The mechanical and thermal properties of cryogels depend on their microstructure. In this study, the microstructure of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) cryogels was modified by the addition of ionic (bis (2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate, AOT) and non-ionic (Kolliphor^® EL) surfactants to the precursor hydrogels (30 g/L). The surfactant concentrations varied from 0.2 mmol/L to 3.0 mmol/L. All of the hydrogels presented viscous behavior (G″ > G′). Hydrogels containing AOT (c > 2.0 mmol/L) led to cryogels with the lowest compressive modulus (13 ± 1 kPa), the highest specific surface area (2.31 m²/g), the lowest thermal conductivity (0.030 W/(m·°C)), and less hygroscopic walls. The addition of Kolliphor^® EL to the hydrogels yielded the stiffest cryogels (320 ± 32 kPa) with the lowest specific surface area (1.11 m²/g) and the highest thermal conductivity (0.055 W/(m·°C)). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated an interaction energy of −31.8 kcal/mol due to the interaction between the AOT sulfonate group and the HPMC hydroxyl group and the hydrogen bond between the AOT carbonyl group and the HPMC hydroxyl group. The interaction energy between the HPMC hydroxyl group and the Kolliphor^® EL hydroxyl group was calculated as −7.91 kcal/mol. A model was proposed to describe the effects of AOT or Kolliphor^® EL on the microstructures and the mechanical/thermal properties of HPMC cryogels. View Full-Text

Keywords: cryogels; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose; AOT; kolliphor; compressive modulus; thermal conductivity; microstructure

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dezotti, R.S.; Furtado, L.M.; Yee, M.; Valera, T.S.; Balaji, K.; Ando, R.A.; Petri, D.F.S. Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants. Gels 2021, 7, 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030118

AMA Style

Dezotti RS, Furtado LM, Yee M, Valera TS, Balaji K, Ando RA, Petri DFS. Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants. Gels. 2021; 7(3):118. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030118

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dezotti, Rafael S., Laíse M. Furtado, Márcio Yee, Ticiane S. Valera, Krishnasamy Balaji, Rômulo A. Ando, and Denise F. S. Petri. 2021. "Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants" Gels 7, no. 3: 118. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7030118

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Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants

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