Preparation and characterization of hydrogel nanocomposite based on nanocellulose and acrylic acid in the presence of urea.

In this study, acrylic acid (AA) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were used as main materials to synthesize an acrylic-nanocellulose hybrid hydrogel nanocomposite in the presence of urea. The interpenetrating polymer networks were obtained by radical polymerization in different urea: AA ratios (0:10, 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 10:10). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and elemental analysis techniques confirmed the chemical interaction of urea in the network structure.