Hi Guys,
I am working with purification of gels, by washing with some solvents, so that, impurities get removed. But while doing that, I am getting some cracks after washing. I have fabricated gels by using polyesters using a bifunctional crosslinker, and I got a network also through esterification reaction. I used here EDC and DMAP as catalysts. I have used various solvents, like DMF, DMSO, Water, Chloroform for washing. but it didnot work. Could somebody share any idea to avoid this problem?
Kind Regards
i suggest you to try to change (decrease) the quantity or rate of crosslinker
Thank you Sir for your answer. Actually, I have used crosslinker at three different conc. 5 molar prcnt, 10 and 15. problem is with all of them. Below 5, I didnot get any network. If we take your idea the other way around, Would it be logical? I mean, to use to more conc. of crosslinker?
can you use amide bonds (instead of ester bonds) for hydrogel formation?
Dear Guobing, thanks for the answer. Many things can be used but here I am using bifunctional crosslinkers having acid groups and polymer backbone contains hydroxyl groups. so, it will make an ester. By the way, Could you please elaborate your thoughts on that?
Haroon, amide bonds would be much more stable than ester bonds, I think!
When you increase the concentration the network becomes rigid and more brittle on the other hand if you decrease the quantity of reticulant (- 5%) you have a network but a little loose, more elastic therefore less brittle
So, it means that problem is not in amount of crosslinker because below 5 percent of crosslinker concentration, gelation disappears ...
Different factors may affect the hydrogel stability during washing. These include the period of incubation in the solvent, its concentration, and pH. Try to optimize these conditions.
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