Preparation and Characterization of CarboxymethylCellulose Hydrogel Fibers

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogel fibers were prepared via a solution spinning method with aluminum sulfate as the crosslinking agent. The preparation process of the CMC hydrogel fibers was optimized via orthogonal experiments. FTIR, POM, SEM and TGA were used to characterize the structure and properties of the hydrogel fibers. The mechanical properties and absorption ability of the hydrogel fibers were also investigated. The results indicated that an even structure was formed in the hydrogel. The mechanical properties of the hydrogel fibers were improved with increasing CMC degree of substitution. The hydrogel fibers had excellent moisture absorption performance, and are well-suited for biomedical applications such as wound dressings.