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Self‐healing in Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Author(s) -
Haraguchi Kazutoshi,
Uyama Kazuhisa,
Tanimoto Hisashi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201100248
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , self healing , materials science , nanocomposite , polymer , composite material , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Polymer hydrogels with characteristics distinct from those of solid materials are one of the most promising candidates for smart materials. Here, we report that a nanocomposite hydrogel (NC gel) consisting of a unique polymer/clay network structure, can exhibit complete self‐healing through autonomic reconstruction of crosslinks across a damaged interface. Mechanical damage in NC gels can be repaired without the use of a healing agent, and even sections of NC gels separated by cutting, from whichever the same or different kinds of NC gel, perfectly (re‐)combine by just contacting the cut surfaces together at mildly elevated temperatures. In NC gels, the autonomic fusion of cut surfaces as well as the self‐healing could be achieved not only immediately after being cut but also after a long waiting time.