Unveiling the Compression Mechanical Properties of AMPS–APTAC–DMAAm Terpolymeric Hydrogels
Mussalimova M. Gizatullina N. Yelemessova G. Taubatyrova A. Aitkaliyeva G. Shynykul Z. Su E. Toleutay G.
December 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Gels
2025#11Issue 12
Polyampholyte hydrogels are promising for load-bearing biomedical applications, but the link between composition and compression behavior remains unclear. In this study, we investigate how initial monomer concentration and a neutral comonomer influence swelling and mechanical properties in AMPS–APTAC networks. Terpolymeric AMPS–APTAC–DMAAm hydrogels were prepared with monomer concentrations from 1 to 2 M, MBAAm levels from 1 to 5 mol%, and DMAAm fractions from 0 to 0.16. Swelling was measured in water. Unconfined compression tests at 3 mm·min−1 provided stress–strain curves, Young’s modulus (E), fracture stress (σf), fracture strain (εf), and toughness (W) up to 99% strain. Increasing the monomer concentration produced denser networks, lower swelling, and higher stiffness. For C2M1, E reached 35.4 kPa, σf reached 0.8 MPa, εf was 82%, and W was 65.6 kJ·m−3. Adding DMAAm strengthened the gels through reversible associative interactions. At z = 0.06, σf increased to 4.28 MPa and W to 196.0 kJ·m−3. At z = 0.16, E increased to 103.0 kPa, while σf was 2.34 MPa and W was 191.6 kJ·m−3. Swelling decreased when monomer or crosslinker content increased. These results show that monomer concentration and DMAAm-mediated associations act as separate design variables that can be tuned to optimize stiffness, strength, and toughness in AMPS–APTAC polyampholyte hydrogels.
AMPS , APTAC , compression , crosslinking density , DMAAm , hydrogen bonding , mechanical properties , polyampholyte hydrogels , swelling behavior , Young’s modulus
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Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Geology and Oil-Gas Business Institute Named After K. Turyssov, Satbayev University, Almaty, 050043, Kazakhstan
Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Almaty, 040000, Kazakhstan
Department of Aquatic Biotechnology, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, 34134, Turkey
Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 37996, TN, United States
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Research Institute of Advanced Materials
Department of Aquatic Biotechnology
Department of Chemistry
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