Preparation of novel temperature-responsive double-network hydrogel reinforced with aramid nanofibers

Mechanical properties of conventional smart hydrogel are not satisfactory, which is a prominent problem for its application. Herein, we provided a strategy for the preparation of novel robust temperature-responsive double-network (DN) hydrogel reinforced with aramid nanofibers (ANF), which is an emerging nanofiller with excellent mechanical properties. Due to the poor dispersity of ANF in proton-rich system, PVA was used in this study as a role of “bridge” to improve the dispersion of ANF in PMAD hydrogel matrix. Because of strong interaction between ANF and matrix, stress can be transferred effectively from matrix to ANF, which leads to 867% improvement of tensile strength of hydrogel, as well as 98% improvement in elongation at break. Moreover, the composite DN hydrogel could still exhibit upper critical solution temperature transition (UCST) behavior at nearly 75 °C, which indicates its temperature-responsibility.