A novel hydrogel with super stability and toughness is obtained by polymerizing acrylamide and maleic acid in the presence of poly(vinyl alcohol) chains. Then the hydrogel is processed with dry‐anneal and loading with cation solution method in order to construct a polymer network containing covalent, crystalline, and ionic cross‐links. Various hydrogels are measured via tensile and compressive tests to determine the optimal preparation and mechanical properties of hydrogels. The hydrogels show high tensile stress of ≈ 8 MPa and toughness of ≈ 25.4 MJ m−3. The hydrogel exhibits good chemical stability that remained up to 93% of original strength after 12 h soaking in phosphate buffered saline. Finally, an energy dissipation mechanism is discussed.

This paper aims at investigating reinforcement effects and mechanisms of four kinds of nanoparticles (SiO2, hectorite, Al2O3 and TiO2) for double‐network hydrogels. Mechanical tests were conducted to determine optimal contents and advantages of those nanoparticles in improving strength or strechability. The results showed that the hydrogels with Al2O3 showed a tensile stress of 0.33 MPa, the compressive stress of 3.38 MPa and high fracture energy of 1117 J · m−2, while the hydrogels with hectorite achieved a strain ratio of 2280% and better elastic modulus of 170.2 kPa. The reinforcement mechanisms were discussed in terms of morphologies, swelling behaviors and dynamic mechanical properties. Moreover, a cell culture test was applied to prove these nanocomposite hydrogels were non‐poisonous to living cells.

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