A Universal Soaking Strategy to Convert Composite Hydrogels into Extremely Tough and Rapidly Recoverable Double‐Network Hydrogels

Yang, Yanyu; Wang, Xing; Yang, Fei; Shen, Hong; Wu, Decheng

doi:10.1002/adma.201601742

Cited by 553 publications

(414 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The inevitable problem conventional hydrogels are facing is when they are subjected to mechanical load, local stress concentration occurs and the accumulation of local stress will break network strands, thus producing network defects via crack propagation, finally resulting in sudden rupture of the entire body . The incorporation of mechanical energy dissipation mechanisms is an effective method to circumvent these problems, obtaining mechanically strong and tough hydrogels, of which double‐network (DN) hydrogels are the representative examples . Traditional DN hydrogels, which consist of two asymmetric covalently connected networks: the first highly crosslinked and brittle network acting as energy‐dissipating sacrificial part and the second loosely crosslinked and flexible network maintaining hydrogel integrity during deformation, exhibit high strength and toughness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Dual‐Crosslinked Strategy to Construct Physical Hydrogels with High Strength, Toughness, Good Mechanical Recoverability, and Shape‐Memory Ability

Qin

Niu

Tang

et al. 2017

Macro Materials & Eng

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A novel type of physical hydrogel based on dual‐crosslinked strategy is successfully synthesized by micellar copolymerization of stearyl methacrylate, acrylamide, and acrylic acid, and subsequent introduction of Fe3+. Strong hydrophobic associations among poly(stearyl methacrylate) blocks form the first crosslinking point and ionic coordination bonds between carboxyl groups and Fe3+ serve as the second crosslinking point. The mechanical properties of the hydrogel can be tuned in a wide range by controlling the densities of two crosslinks. The optimal hydrogel shows excellent mechanical properties (tensile strength of ≈6.8 MPa, elastic modulus of ≈8.0 MPa, elongation of ≈1000%, toughness of 53 MJ m−3) and good self‐recovery property. Furthermore, owing to stimuli responsiveness of physical interaction, this hydrogel also shows a triple shape memory effect. The combination of two different physical interactions in a single network provides a general strategy for designing of high‐strength hydrogels with functionalities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Dual‐Crosslinked Strategy to Construct Physical Hydrogels with High Strength, Toughness, Good Mechanical Recoverability, and Shape‐Memory Ability

Qin

Niu

Tang

et al. 2017

Macro Materials & Eng

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“…When both the networks are chemically cross‐linked, the resultant DN hydrogels sustain permanent damage after the first loading–unloading cycle, making them susceptible to fatigue . However, DN hydrogels with hybrid chemical and physically cross‐linked networks show impressive self‐recovery and anti‐fatigue properties owing to the restoration of the reversible physical cross‐links on removal of load …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This gel achieved a maximum stress (at 200% strain) that was more than two times the stress sustained by the original sample during the first loading. Similar increase in the maximum stress in the fatigue resistance test has previously been reported in chitosan‐based covalently cross‐linked composite hydrogels . This result is consistent with the earlier observation that when the waiting time between loading–unloading cycles increased, the maximum stress achieved by the hydrogel also increased (Figure B), and provides further support to the formation of a stronger physical network structure between PAM and chitosan.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Highly Stretchable, Tough, Self‐Healing, and Thermoprocessable Polyacrylamide–Chitosan Supramolecular Hydrogel

Dutta

Maity

Das

2018

Macro Materials & Eng

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Polymerization of acrylamide in concentrated aqueous solution in the presence of chitosan and in the absence of covalent cross‐linker leads to the formation of stiff and tough supramolecular polymer hydrogels that are self‐healing, can be stretched up to ≈30 times their original length, and demonstrate rapid self‐recovery, due to the inter‐chain hydrogen bonds between polyacrylamide and chitosan acting as sacrificial bonds to dissipate energy. These gels show thermoplastic behavior and can be molded into different shapes after a heating–cooling cycle, maintaining reasonable mechanical strength. The gels can withstand repeated compressive loading–unloading cycles, exhibiting reliable load‐bearing capacity.

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“…[22] The mechanical strength of the abovementioned strong hydrogels can be comparable with that of biological soft tissues. [23][24][25] Researchers have also focused on the highly ordered structures within hydrogels. Many biological soft tissues in nature, such as cartilage, skeletal muscles, corneas, and blood vessels, are natural hydrogel materials that exhibit anisotropic mechanical performances due to their highly ordered hierarchical nanocomposite structures.…”

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confidence: 99%

Bioinspired Nanocomposite Hydrogels with Highly Ordered Structures

et al. 2017

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In the human body, many soft tissues with hierarchically ordered composite structures, such as cartilage, skeletal muscle, the corneas, and blood vessels, exhibit highly anisotropic mechanical strength and functionality to adapt to complex environments. In artificial soft materials, hydrogels are analogous to these biological soft tissues due to their “soft and wet” properties, their biocompatibility, and their elastic performance. However, conventional hydrogel materials with unordered homogeneous structures inevitably lack high mechanical properties and anisotropic functional performances; thus, their further application is limited. Inspired by biological soft tissues with well‐ordered structures, researchers have increasingly investigated highly ordered nanocomposite hydrogels as functional biological engineering soft materials with unique mechanical, optical, and biological properties. These hydrogels incorporate long‐range ordered nanocomposite structures within hydrogel network matrixes. Here, the critical design criteria and the state‐of‐the‐art fabrication strategies of nanocomposite hydrogels with highly ordered structures are systemically reviewed. Then, recent progress in applications in the fields of soft actuators, tissue engineering, and sensors is highlighted. The future development and prospective application of highly ordered nanocomposite hydrogels are also discussed.

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A Universal Soaking Strategy to Convert Composite Hydrogels into Extremely Tough and Rapidly Recoverable Double‐Network Hydrogels

Cited by 553 publications

References 47 publications

A Dual‐Crosslinked Strategy to Construct Physical Hydrogels with High Strength, Toughness, Good Mechanical Recoverability, and Shape‐Memory Ability

A Dual‐Crosslinked Strategy to Construct Physical Hydrogels with High Strength, Toughness, Good Mechanical Recoverability, and Shape‐Memory Ability

A Highly Stretchable, Tough, Self‐Healing, and Thermoprocessable Polyacrylamide–Chitosan Supramolecular Hydrogel

Bioinspired Nanocomposite Hydrogels with Highly Ordered Structures

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