(177ad) Optimizing Performance of Foam-Templated Porous Hydrogels

Hydrogels are materials that have gained significant attention due to their ability to absorb and retain large amounts of water, making them versatile in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and industrial applications. However, the slow swelling kinetics of hydrogels has limited their potential in certain applications. To address this limitation, porous hydrogels are being investigated for their potential to enhance water uptake kinetics and capacity through capillary action. However, since incorporation of porosity deteriorates the mechanical properties, we evaluate if the complexation between surfactant and polymer can be used to address this issue. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of foam-templated porous polymers, known as polyfoams, derived from Pluronic F68 diacrylate (PF68DA) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and simulating their behavior for agricultural applications. The PF68DA plays the role of both the monomer and crosslinker and SDS is used as the surfactant. The properties of the hydrogels including water-uptake capacity and kinetics are studied by using structural and rheological analyses. By studying the effect of surfactant concentration on the properties of polyfoams, we aim to develop a better understanding of how to tailor their properties for specific applications.