Tensile Properties of a Cellulose Ether Hydrogel

Poly(hydroxycellulose) solutions were molded into dumbell-shaped specimens crosslinked with divinyl sulfone. The resulting hydrogels were tested in tension at room temperature and also at a temperature above the 40 C shrinkage transition. In contrast to behavior seen in some other responsive gels, apparent initial tangent moduli were lower in the shrunken state; breaking elongations were significantly higher. Possible molecular mechanisms are suggested, and implications for the design of temperature-responsive actuators ("artificial muscles") from this material are discussed