Open AccessMolecular mechanism of abnormally large nonsoftening deformation in a tough hydrogel
Author(s) -
Yanan Ye,
Kunpeng Cui,
Wei Hong,
Xueyu Li,
Chengtao Yu,
Dominique Hourdet,
Tasuku Nakajima,
Takayuki Kurokawa,
Jian Ping Gong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2014694118
Subject(s) - softening , self healing hydrogels , deformation (meteorology) , materials science , soft materials , mechanism (biology) , linear polymer , polymer , nanotechnology , composite material , polymer chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Tough soft materials usually show strain softening and inelastic deformation. Here, we study the molecular mechanism of abnormally large nonsoftening, quasi-linear but inelastic deformation in tough hydrogels made of hyperconnective physical network and linear polymers as molecular glues to the network. The interplay of hyperconnectivity of network and effective load transfer by molecular glues prevents stress concentration, which is revealed by an affine deformation of the network to the bulk deformation up to sample failure. The suppression of local stress concentration and strain amplification plays a key role in avoiding necking or strain softening and endows the gels with a unique large nonsoftening, quasi-linear but inelastic deformation.