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In Situ Preparation of Mechanically Enhanced Hydrogel via Dispersion Polymerization in Aqueous Solution
Author(s) -
Chen Honggui,
Zhang Xiang,
Lin Ziyu,
Zhang Rui,
Yu Bingran,
Li Yang,
Xu FuJian
Publication year - 2021
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.202100028
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , materials science , polymerization , monomer , in situ polymerization , aqueous solution , fabrication , chemical engineering , rheology , dispersion polymerization , dispersion (optics) , radical polymerization , polymer chemistry , nanotechnology , polymer , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , optics , engineering , medicine , alternative medicine , physics , pathology
Hydrogels with improved mechanical properties can expand to a greater range of applications. The fabrication of conventional toughened hydrogels typically requires precise modifications, multiple components, and complex steps. Here, a straightforward “one‐step” polymerization method for the in situ preparation of hydrogels in aqueous solutions, is reported. Inspired by polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA), water‐miscible monomers are copolymerized during the hydrogel fabrication; the growing blocks eventually form physical bridges thus providing a mechanism for effective energy dissipation. The rheological and mechanical properties are evaluated and the results reveal that this strategy can be an effective approach to design mechanically enhanced hydrogels for a wide range of applications.