Plant Cell-Inspired Hydrogel Composites with High Mechanical Strength

Extensive experimental and theoretical research over the past several decades has culminated in the understanding of the mechanisms behind nanoparticle-mediated enhancements on the mechanical properties of hydrogels. This information is not only crucial to realizing applications that directly benefit from developing hydrogels with high mechanical strength, but also to guide the development of strategies to further enhance hydrogel properties by combining different approaches. In our study, we investigated the effect of combining two approaches – addition of nanoparticles and crosslinking two different polymers (to create double-network hydrogels) – on the mechanical properties of hydrogels. Our studies revealed that these approaches may be combined to synthesize hydrogel composites with enhanced properties; however, both polymers in the double-network hydrogel must strongly interact with the nanoparticles to fully benefit from the addition of nanoparticles. Moreover, the concentration of hydrogel monomers used for the preparation of the double-network hydrogels had a significant effect on the extent of nanoparticle-mediated enhancements; double-network hydrogel nanocomposites prepared using lower monomer concentrations showed higher enhancements in elastic moduli compared to those prepared using high monomer concentrations. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the hypotheses previously developed to understand the role of nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of hydrogel nanocomposites may be extended to double-network hydrogel systems and guide the development of next generation hydrogels with extraordinary mechanical properties through a combination of orthogonal approaches.

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Role of Nanoparticle–Polymer Interactions on the Development of Double-Network Hydrogel Nanocomposites with High Mechanical Strength

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12020470 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 470 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew Chang ◽

Nasim Babhadiashar ◽

Emma Barrett-Catton ◽

Prashanth Asuri

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Mechanical Strength ◽

Elastic Moduli ◽

Theoretical Research ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Double Network ◽

The Past ◽

Hydrogel Nanocomposites ◽

Hydrogel Composites

Extensive experimental and theoretical research over the past several decades has pursued strategies to develop hydrogels with high mechanical strength. Our study investigated the effect of combining two approaches, addition of nanoparticles and crosslinking two different polymers (to create double-network hydrogels), on the mechanical properties of hydrogels. Our experimental analyses revealed that these orthogonal approaches may be combined to synthesize hydrogel composites with enhanced mechanical properties. However, the enhancement in double network hydrogel elastic modulus due to incorporation of nanoparticles is limited by the ability of the nanoparticles to strongly interact with the polymers in the network. Moreover, double-network hydrogel nanocomposites prepared using lower monomer concentrations showed higher enhancements in elastic moduli compared to those prepared using high monomer concentrations, thus indicating that the concentration of hydrogel monomers used for the preparation of the nanocomposites had a significant effect on the extent of nanoparticle-mediated enhancements. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the hypotheses previously developed to understand the role of nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of hydrogel nanocomposites may be extended to double-network hydrogel systems and guide the development of next-generation hydrogels with extraordinary mechanical properties through a combination of different approaches.

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Superporous Hydrogel Composites: A New Generation of Hydrogels with Fast Swelling Kinetics, High Swelling Ratio and High Mechanical Strength

Polymeric Drugs & Drug Delivery Systems ◽

10.1201/9780429136405-10 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 145-156

Author(s):

Kinam Park ◽

Jun Chen ◽

Haesun Park

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Strength ◽

Swelling Kinetics ◽

Swelling Ratio ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Hydrogel Composites ◽

New Generation ◽

Superporous Hydrogel

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DMV 59

Alloy Digest ◽

10.31399/asm.ad.ni0672 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 58 (8) ◽

Keyword(s):

Fracture Toughness ◽

Corrosion Resistance ◽

High Temperature ◽

Mechanical Strength ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Tensile Properties ◽

Heat Treating ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Temperature Performance

Abstract DMV 59 is the material of choice for a wide variety of applications where significant corrosion resistance and high mechanical strength is necessary. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, elasticity, and tensile properties as well as fracture toughness. It also includes information on high temperature performance and corrosion resistance as well as forming, heat treating, and joining. Filing Code: Ni-672. Producer or source: Mannesmann DMV Stainless USA Inc.

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BOFORS 2RM2

Alloy Digest ◽

10.31399/asm.ad.ss0169 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

Keyword(s):

Fracture Toughness ◽

Corrosion Resistance ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Mechanical Strength ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Tensile Properties ◽

Cast Steel ◽

Heat Treating ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Temperature Performance

Abstract BOFORS 2RM2 is a hardenable stainless cast steel having good weldability, high mechanical strength and improved corrosion resistance. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, hardness, elasticity, and tensile properties as well as fracture toughness. It also includes information on low temperature performance and corrosion resistance as well as casting, forming, heat treating, machining, and joining. Filing Code: SS-169. Producer or source: Aktiebolaget Bofors.

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Dynamic Nanohybrid-Polysaccharide Hydrogels for Soft Wearable Strain Sensing

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21113574 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (11) ◽

pp. 3574

Author(s):

Pejman Heidarian ◽

Hossein Yousefi ◽

Akif Kaynak ◽

Mariana Paulino ◽

Saleh Gharaie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Strength ◽

Strain Sensors ◽

Self Healing ◽

Nano Materials ◽

Strain Sensing ◽

Ferric Ions ◽

Research Activity ◽

Adhesion Properties ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

The Moment

Electroconductive hydrogels with stimuli-free self-healing and self-recovery (SELF) properties and high mechanical strength for wearable strain sensors is an area of intensive research activity at the moment. Most electroconductive hydrogels, however, consist of static bonds for mechanical strength and dynamic bonds for SELF performance, presenting a challenge to improve both properties into one single hydrogel. An alternative strategy to successfully incorporate both properties into one system is via the use of stiff or rigid, yet dynamic nano-materials. In this work, a nano-hybrid modifier derived from nano-chitin coated with ferric ions and tannic acid (TA/Fe@ChNFs) is blended into a starch/polyvinyl alcohol/polyacrylic acid (St/PVA/PAA) hydrogel. It is hypothesized that the TA/Fe@ChNFs nanohybrid imparts both mechanical strength and stimuli-free SELF properties to the hydrogel via dynamic catecholato-metal coordination bonds. Additionally, the catechol groups of TA provide mussel-inspired adhesion properties to the hydrogel. Due to its electroconductivity, toughness, stimuli-free SELF properties, and self-adhesiveness, a prototype soft wearable strain sensor is created using this hydrogel and subsequently tested.

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Skin-inspired Nanofibrillated Cellulose-reinforced Hydrogels with High Mechanical Strength, Long-term Antibacterial, and Self‐recovery Ability for Wearable Strain/Pressure Sensors

Carbohydrate Polymers ◽

10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117894 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 117894

Author(s):

Shuang Wang ◽

Jun Xiang ◽

Yuegang Sun ◽

Haoliang Wang ◽

Xiaosheng Du ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Strength ◽

Pressure Sensors ◽

Nanofibrillated Cellulose ◽

High Mechanical Strength

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High-strength and fibrous capsule–resistant zwitterionic elastomers

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abc5442 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. eabc5442

Author(s):

Dianyu Dong ◽

Caroline Tsao ◽

Hsiang-Chieh Hung ◽

Fanglian Yao ◽

Chenjue Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Mechanical Strength ◽

High Strength ◽

Design Principles ◽

Fibrous Capsule ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Capsule Formation ◽

Locking Mechanism ◽

Fibrous Capsule Formation

The high mechanical strength and long-term resistance to the fibrous capsule formation are two major challenges for implantable materials. Unfortunately, these two distinct properties do not come together and instead compromise each other. Here, we report a unique class of materials by integrating two weak zwitterionic hydrogels into an elastomer-like high-strength pure zwitterionic hydrogel via a “swelling” and “locking” mechanism. These zwitterionic-elastomeric-networked (ZEN) hydrogels are further shown to efficaciously resist the fibrous capsule formation upon implantation in mice for up to 1 year. Such materials with both high mechanical properties and long-term fibrous capsule resistance have never been achieved before. This work not only demonstrates a class of durable and fibrous capsule–resistant materials but also provides design principles for zwitterionic elastomeric hydrogels.

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Nacre-inspired composite films with high mechanical strength constructed from MXenes and wood-inspired hydrothermal cellulose-based nanofibers for high performance flexible supercapacitors

Nanoscale ◽

10.1039/d0nr08090j ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 3079-3091

Author(s):

Libo Chang ◽

Zhiyuan Peng ◽

Tong Zhang ◽

Chuying Yu ◽

Wenbin Zhong

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Strength ◽

High Performance ◽

Composite Films ◽

High Mechanical Strength ◽

Flexible Supercapacitor ◽

Flexible Supercapacitors

Wood-inspired HCNF@Lig introduced into MXenes constructing a nacre-like material with high mechanical strength and excellent flexibility used as a flexible supercapacitor.

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