Reactive & Functional Polymers最新文献

{"title":"Stability of ammonium carboxylate structures in TEMPO-oxidized cellulose to dry thermal, humid thermal, and hydrothermal treatments","authors":"Runqing Hou,&nbsp;Pavitra Thevi Arnandan,&nbsp;Korawit Chitbanyong,&nbsp;Izumi Shibata,&nbsp;Akira Isogai","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) containing ammonium carboxylate groups are possibly converted to CNFs with protonated carboxy groups via simple thermal decomposition. The CNF-COOH structures in films and composites can form intra- and inter-fibrillar hydrogen bonds, which are expected to enhance mechanical, thermal, and gas-barrier properties. In this study, CNF pellets and films containing ammonium carboxylate groups were first prepared and subjected to dry thermal, humid thermal, and hydrothermal treatments to clarify the convertibility of ammonium carboxylate groups to protonated ones, considering simple thermal processes to improve CNF properties. The ratios of ammonium carboxylate or protonated carboxy groups in the heated samples were determined from their infrared spectra. Freeze-dried pellets-COONH₄ and cast/dried CNF-COONH₄ films contained 81–82% ammonium carboxylate group ratios before heating; however, complete formation of ammonium carboxylate groups in the pellet and film samples could not be achieved. Heating at 90 °C and 90% RH for 240 min was required for the CNF-COONH₄ films to reduce the ammonium carboxylate ratio from 81% to 8%. These results indicate that the ammonium carboxylate groups in the film samples exhibited high resistance to the formation of protonated carboxy groups under the thermal conditions applied. Consequently, it is not plausible that CNF-COONH₄ films were mostly converted to CNF-COOH structures under the heating conditions used in this study over a short time. Nevertheless, partial conversions of CNF-COONH₄ groups to CNF-COOH ones by thermal treatment under suitable conditions are regarded as simple processes to change the structures of counterions of carboxy groups and resultant film properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 106657"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis of Ag-based TPU using a silver/3-pyridine methanol chain extender to enhance the surface properties of PVC/Ag-based TPU membranes in MBRs","authors":"Mehdi Zarei ,&nbsp;Hossein Hazrati ,&nbsp;Ali Akbari ,&nbsp;Reza Lotfi Mayan Sofla","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106644","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106644","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial adhesion and growth on polymeric membrane surfaces—particularly in membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems—pose significant challenges, often leading to severe biofouling and reduced treatment efficiency. As membrane surface properties directly influence fouling behavior, the development of membranes with inherent antibacterial functionality is essential. In this study, novel antibacterial PVC/Ag-based TPU membranes were synthesized and evaluated. Silver nitrate (AgNO₃) was first reacted with 3-pyridine methanol and then employed as a chain extender during the in situ polymerization of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), resulting in Ag-based TPU materials. These were then blended with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to fabricate membranes via the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. The incorporation of silver altered the mechanical and surface properties of the TPU, notably reducing surface roughness and water contact angle (WCA) as silver content increased. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that the Ag2P15B membrane exhibited approximately 50% lower surface roughness compared to other membranes. Performance evaluation in an MBR system demonstrated that the Ag2P15B membrane achieved a flux recovery rate (FRR) of 91.25% and a total fouling ratio (TFR) of just 30%, indicating significantly enhanced antifouling behavior compared with other membranes lacking antibacterial TPU. These results underscore the potential of Ag-based TPUs for developing high-performance, antifouling membranes for advanced wastewater treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 106644"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tuning physical performance of gelatin-cellulose nanocrystals hydrogels","authors":"Jessica Borges-Vilches ,&nbsp;Tuuli Virkkala ,&nbsp;Valentina Guccini ,&nbsp;Marko Crivaro ,&nbsp;Thaddeus Maloney ,&nbsp;Tekla Tammelin ,&nbsp;Eero Kontturi","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are interesting, particularly in the realm of biomedicals, but often the fundamental response of their key physical properties is not simultaneously monitored. Here, we investigated the pH response on the porosity, rheological behavior, mechanical performance, and molecular diffusivity of a hydrogel system composed of two bio-based components: gelatin and rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). By leveraging the pH-responsive nature of gelatin, we systematically examined the structural properties of these hydrogels formed under three pH conditions: below (pH 5), above (pH 11), and at the isoelectric point (pH 8) of type A gelatin. All hydrogels exhibited a distinct cellular architecture, characterized by micron-scale tubular pores with embedded mesopores. Increasing pH upon the hydrogel crosslinking promoted the formation of more porous structures with significantly enhanced mechanical performance. The effect on the Young's modulus was significant: with a 3-fold increase compared to its counterparts, the hydrogel fabricated at pH 11 exhibited the stiffest structure. This improvement in hydrogel stiffness with pH further restricted the molecular diffusivity within the hydrogels to some extent, as evidenced by Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching analysis using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran as a diffusion probe. Overall, this study presents a straightforward and effective strategy for fabricating pH-tunable hydrogels, providing valuable insights for the design of responsive biomaterials with potential applications in soft tissue engineering and drug delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 106667"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan composite hydrogel beads for pH/redox dual-responsive pesticide release","authors":"Xiyuan Guo ,&nbsp;Yuanfeng Pan ,&nbsp;Yuanjian Xie ,&nbsp;Pingxiong Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pesticides are essential for agricultural production; however, their improper application can result in ecological damage and potential threats to human health. Therefore, the development of pesticide-controlled-release systems is crucial for the sustainable progress of agriculture and society. This work presents a novel strategy for fabricating a polyelectrolyte hydrogel bead-based pesticide-controlled-release system. The process involves blending a sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan (SA/CMCS) solution with cystine dihydrochloride (CYS), followed by introducing the mixture into a citric acid (CA) solution. The abundant protonated amino groups (-NH³⁺) and carboxylate anions (-COO-) within the system facilitate the formation of CMCS/SA-CYS/CA composite hydrogel beads (CHGB), subsequently loaded with thiamethoxam (TMX) to create TMX-loaded CHGB (TCHGB) for investigations into drug loading and responsive release. The CHGB exhibits remarkable swelling properties (up to 4200%), along with pH and redox sensitivity. And the release of TMX from TCHGB displays favorable responsiveness to pH and redox stimuli. Under alkaline conditions (pH 9.0) and reductive surroundings (containing glutathione), the cumulative release ratio of TMX surpasses 95%. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the release kinetics of TMX comply with Fickian diffusion described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The discoveries of this study hold considerable research and practical value in the domain of controlled-release agricultural chemicals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 106659"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chitosan hydrogel loaded with dexamethasone nanoparticles enhances osteogenesis and bone regeneration via macrophage polarization","authors":"Jie Zhang ,&nbsp;Yuhao Zhao ,&nbsp;Jianze Cao ,&nbsp;Yongfei Liu ,&nbsp;Haiyan Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2026.106661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional bone defect repair faces challenges such as donor scarcity and immune rejection. In this study, we developed a chitosan hydrogel embedded with Dexamethasone-loaded nanoparticles (Dex-CS-NPs) to synergistically enhance bone regeneration through immunomodulation and osteogenic stimulation. The Dex-CS-NPs, synthesized via ionic crosslinking, exhibited an average diameter of 41.10 ± 7.31 nm, an encapsulation efficiency of 65.62%, and a drug loading capacity of 22.33%. These nanoparticles were then uniformly integrated into a chitosan hydrogel matrix. In vitro, the Dex-CS-NPs-loaded hydrogel demonstrated sustained release of Dexamethasone, which promoted macrophage polarization towards the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. In a rat tibial critical-size defect model, implantation of the NPs-hydrogel significantly improved bone regeneration outcomes and facilitated integration with the host tissue. Histological analysis confirmed upregulation of RUNX2 expression and increased osteoblast activity at the defect site, without inducing systemic toxicity. This dual-functional biomaterial not only modulates the local immune microenvironment via M2 polarization but also directly stimulates osteogenesis, offering a promising strategy to address clinical challenges in bone repair.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"221 ","pages":"Article 106661"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Light-activated self-healing poly (lactic acid) for durable FDM 3D printing applications","authors":"Antoni Pagés-Llobet ,&nbsp;Fernando Julián ,&nbsp;Francesc Xavier Espinach ,&nbsp;Mònica Ardanuy ,&nbsp;Helena Oliver-Ortega ,&nbsp;José Alberto Méndez","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing technique that allows the fabrication of complex and customized parts. However, FDM-based pieces exhibit low mechanical performance due to the inherent limitations of this technology: poor interlayer adhesion and internal voids. As a result, the mechanical durability is reduced contributing to the problem of plastic waste generation. In this sense, the introduction of dynamic crosslinkers into the thermoplastic can be particularly beneficial, since they not only reinforce the polymer matrix but also impart self-healing functionality. As a consequence, the service life of FDM components is further extended. Here, we develop a coumarin-modified poly (lactic acid) formulation capable of intrinsic, light-activated self-healing. Upon ultraviolet irradiation under optimized solid-state conditions of irradiance and temperature, coumarin moieties grafted onto the PLA backbone undergo [2π + 2π] cycloaddition, generating photocrosslinked networks. Evidence of photocrosslinking was confirmed by the formation of a gel fraction (9.6 %) and a 72 % increase in storage modulus. Mechanical scratches on FDM specimens were subsequently irradiated, showing accelerated scratch closure and a smaller reduction in storage modulus (9.5 %) compared to neat PLA (32 %). These results suggest that dimerized coumarin units partially undergo reversible cleavage and re-dimerization during the healing process, enabling repeated recovery of mechanical stability. This represents the first demonstration of light-activated self-healing in FDM-printed PLA. Unlike previously reported extrinsic self-healing approaches in PLA, which rely on single-use microcapsule systems, the present work achieves intrinsic, repeatable self-healing within the PLA matrix. By combining biobased composition with extended functionality and durability, this research advances a sustainable strategy for additive manufacturing, addressing both the mechanical limitations of FDM and the broader challenge of reducing plastic waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 106607"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alkoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes – The missing member of the PDMS family","authors":"I.I. Belikova ,&nbsp;K.A. Bezlepkina ,&nbsp;V.A. Aristova ,&nbsp;F.D. Krylov ,&nbsp;S.N. Ardabevskaia ,&nbsp;R.V. Uliankin ,&nbsp;I.V. Frank ,&nbsp;V.Yu. Zubova ,&nbsp;E.O. Minyaylo ,&nbsp;A.A. Anisimov ,&nbsp;A.M. Muzafarov ,&nbsp;S.A. Milenin","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polydimethylsiloxanes with alkoxysilyl functional groups are in demand due to their high reactivity in hydrolysis, condensation, and heterofunctional condensation reactions, opening up their potential application in the production of sealants, gaskets, and coatings. This study focuses on the preparation of polydimethylsiloxanes with terminal alkoxy groups by opening octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in an alcohol solution in the presence of sodium methoxide as an initiator. The alcohol acts as a solvent, a transfer agent, and a chain terminator. The influence of catalyst concentration and the amount of alcohol used on the reaction progress and the molecular weight characteristics of polydimethylsiloxanes with terminal methoxy groups were studied. As a result, optimal process conditions were selected: a 50 % solution of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane in methanol in the presence of 3 mol% catalyst. The reproducibility and scalability of the method were demonstrated, yielding over 100 g of polydimethylsiloxanes with terminal methoxy groups. The possibility of reusing the methanol phase containing cyclic products and sodium methoxide was demonstrated. A series of polydimethylsiloxanes with various terminal alkoxy groups, such as those with allyloxy groups, were obtained. The structure of the resulting polydimethylsiloxanes was established and confirmed using ¹H, ²⁹Si, ¹H<img>²⁹Si HMBC NMR spectroscopy, GPC analysis, and MALDI-TOF spectrometry. The obtained results can have a positive impact on the development of the field of synthesis of functionalized polysiloxanes and materials based on them in the near future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 106621"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable casein-derived materials for water purification: opportunities, challenges, progress, and perspectives","authors":"Noureddine El Messaoudi ,&nbsp;Youssef Miyah ,&nbsp;Jordana Georgin ,&nbsp;Dison S.P. Franco ,&nbsp;Mesut Yılmazoğlu ,&nbsp;Tarek Kouka ,&nbsp;Mouslim Messali","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Casein, a sustainable and protein-rich biopolymer derived from milk, has recently exhibited excellent prospects as an efficient building block for the synthesis of eco-friendly materials for water purification. Its abundance of functional groups, intrinsic biocompatibility, and ease of creating composite or hybrid structures render it a potential choice for adsorbents, membranes, and catalytic supports to be employed for the elimination of heavy metals, dyes, drugs, and emerging contaminants. This review critically surveys progress in the design of casein-based materials; chemically modified casein and polymer–casein mixtures to hybrid casein-nanomaterials; and their performance characteristics, regenerability, and environmental impact. Opportunities for innovation, such as newer functionalization strategies, blending with low-cost renewable fillers, and photocatalytic or antimicrobial agent use, are highlighted. Mechanical stability, scalability, and raw casein availability variability issues are discussed alongside environmental and regulatory matters. The review concludes with future directions for valorizing casein in a circular bioeconomy context, aiming to optimize, scale up, and translate laboratory successes into effective water treatment processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 106612"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and functionalization of micelle-embedded polymeric films: Reactive platforms for controlled and targeted drug delivery","authors":"Rizwana Fathima M Kasim,&nbsp;Kalaivizhi Rajappan","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combination of micelles and polymers has produced hybrid polymeric films with embedded micelles, which maintain the nanometric precision of micellar drug carriers while also stabilizing a resilient film matrix that facilitates controlled drug release. The combination of micelles made of block copolymers with high drug-loading capacity, better solubility of hydrophobic payloads, and stimuli-responsive behavior has been facilitated by this system through the mechanical stability and localized delivery capability of thin polymeric matrices. The article provides a detailed discussion of the design principles, fabrication methods, and functional mechanisms of micelle-embedded block copolymer films, focusing on Layer-by-Layer (LBL) assembly, hybrid polymer matrices, and smart stimuli-responsive systems. Their biomedical applications have been reviewed in-depth, including cancer therapy, antimicrobial coatings, wound healing, regenerative medicine, and ocular drug delivery. The multiple functionalities' integration, such as pH, redox, and thermo-responsiveness, results in releasing drugs in the specific area and at the desired time like never before. In conclusion, micelle-embedded polymeric films are a great candidate for the next generation of drug delivery systems, offering personalized, localized, and sustained therapeutic actions through various and diversified clinical fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 106611"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic rigid-flexible dual-network hydrogel with robust absorbency and anti-freezing property","authors":"Jialve Zhang,&nbsp;Yanli Shi,&nbsp;Zhengyue Wu,&nbsp;Xvbo Zhang,&nbsp;Yujing Zhang,&nbsp;Picheng Chen,&nbsp;Chuanhui Gao,&nbsp;Yumin Wu,&nbsp;Yuetao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2025.106623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of materials with high water absorption, long-lasting water retention, and frost resistance is of great significance for the development of arid, semi-arid, and cold regions. This study utilized acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), and <em>N</em>, <em>N</em>′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as precursors to construct a covalently crosslinked rigid network through free radical polymerization, while sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and Ca²⁺ ions were introduced to fabricate the flexible network via non-covalent interactions, yielding a PAA-AM-AMPS/CMC dual-network hydrogel with a three-dimensional architecture. The resultant hydrogel exhibited a water absorption capacity of 1435 g/g in aqueous solution, and the soil combined with 1 wt% hydrogel attained a remarkable water holding capacity of 156 %. It maintained 25 % moisture after 20 days and exhibited only a 23 % reduction in water retention after fifteen cycles, so illustrating exceptional water retention capabilities. Moreover, the compact dual-network structure endowed the hydrogel with a stress of 0.248 MPa and a fracture elongation of 1280 %, concurrently reducing the freezing point to −33.15 °C, significantly enhanced the hydrogel's mechanical properties and ultra-freeze resistance. Soil combined with 15 % hydrogel exhibited a freezing point decreased to −13.03 °C and maintained 70.16 % unfrozen water following freezing at −20 °C. Thus, the PAA-AM-AMPS/CMC hydrogel demonstrates exceptional capabilities in water absorption, soil water retention, and freeze resistance, which has considerable implications for efficient water resource management under extreme conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20916,"journal":{"name":"Reactive & Functional Polymers","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 106623"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}