This work provides a new method to prepare poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel. Compared with the traditional repeated freeze−thaw method, the physical cross-linking method was adopted to prepare a high-strength hydrogel in one step. The morphology, melting, and crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of the hydrogel were investigated. The hydrogel has a high water content and reswelling rate, as well as a high melting temperature and mechanical strength. It also has a stable crosslinked structure in the temperature range of 25−65 °C. The hydrogel fracture surface shows ductile and brittle fracture morphology. The protrusions in the hydrogel three-dimensional topography are more numerous and homogeneous when the solvent preparation ratio is 4−6. On the basis of the good plasticity of the hydrogels, tubular hydrogels with inner diameters of 1−6 mm are also prepared to widen their applications.

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In this paper, polymer single fibers are prepared by electro‐spinning technology with different solvent rations, and the micromechanics properties are investigated together with the finite element analysis. It is found that the tensile stress–strain curves of single fibers can be attributed to two kinds of trends, which are independent of the solvent ratios. A possible arrangement model of polymer chains within the electrospun fibers is proposed according to the tensile stress–strain curves and the mechanics theories. The effect of polymer chains arrangement on the mechanical properties of the fibers is explored by the finite element analysis. This research shows a practical reference to predict the relationship between orientation degree of polymer chains and mechanical properties within the fibers.