Preparation of calcium alginate/polyethylene glycol acrylate double network fiber with excellent properties by dynamic molding method

[Display omitted] Fig. 1 Process of dynamic molding. •Using dynamic molding method to prepare double network fiber.•The high viscosity of the SA gel solution is greatly reduced.•PEGDA reduces the intercellular hydrogen bond actions in SA macromolecules.•Composite fiber with double network has excellent mechanical properties.•Calcium alginate (CA) and PEGDA have good compatibility. In order to greatly reduce the viscosity of sodium alginate (SA) gel solution and improve the properties of calcium alginate (CA) fiber, SA/polyethylene glycol acrylate (PEGDA) gel spinning solution with interpenetrating network structure was prepared by using one-pot method firstly. Then the solution was extruded continuously into the coagulation bath. CA/PEGDA composite fiber with double network was prepared by ionic crosslinking SA macromolecules with Ca2+ during the dynamic molding process of solidification, stretch and curl. Rheological results indicated that the spinning solution’s apparent viscosity was 92.8% smaller than that of the pure SA solution at PEGDA content of 20 wt%. As the PEGDA content increased, the storage modulus G' and the loss modulus G" both decreased. FTIR results showed that PEGDA content had an obvious influence on hydrogen bond in CA/PEGDA system. The tensile strength of composite fiber reached maximum of 2.91cN/dtex at PEGDA of 10%.