Wang J, Song T, Chen H, Ming W, Cheng Z, Liu J, Liang B, Wang Y, Wang G. Bioinspired High-Strength Montmorillonite-Alginate Hybrid Film: The Effect of Different Divalent Metal Cation Crosslinking.
Polymers (Basel) 2022;
14:polym14122433. [PMID:
35746010 PMCID:
PMC9229400 DOI:
10.3390/polym14122433]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The natural nacre has a regular ordered layered structure of calcium carbonate tablets and ion crosslinking proteins stacked alternately, showing outstanding mechanical properties. Inspired by nacre, we fabricated different divalent metal cation-crosslinked montmorillonite-alginate hybrid films (MMT-ALG-X2+; X2+ = Cu2+, Cd2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Co2+ or Mn2+). The effect of ionic crosslinking strength and hydrogen bond interaction on the mechanical properties of the nacre-mimetics was studied. With the cations affinities with ALG being increased (Mn2+ < Co2+ = Ni2+ < Ca2+ < Ba2+ < Cd2+ < Cu2+), the tensile strength of nacre-mimetics showed two opposite influence trends: Weak ionic crosslinking (Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Ca2+) can synergize with hydrogen bonds to greatly increase the tensile properties of the sample; Strong ionic crosslinking (Ba2+, Cd2+, Cu2+) and hydrogen bonding form a competitive relationship, resulting in a rapid decrease in mechanical properties. Mn2+ crosslinking generates optimal strength of 288.0 ± 15.2 MPa with an ultimate strain of 5.35 ± 0.6%, obviously superior to natural nacre (135 MPa and 2%). These excellent mechanical properties arise from the optimum synergy of ion crosslinking and interfacial hydrogen bonds between crosslinked ALG and MMT nanosheets. In addition, these metal ion-crosslinked composite films show different colors, high visible transparency, and excellent UV shielding properties.
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