Open AccessStrong and tough hydrogels crosslinked by multi‐functional polymer colloids
Author(s) -
Fu Jun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of polymer science part b: polymer physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1099-0488
pISSN - 0887-6266
DOI - 10.1002/polb.24728
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , materials science , toughening , polymer , toughness , copolymer , non covalent interactions , polymer science , nanotechnology , covalent bond , polymer chemistry , composite material , chemistry , molecule , organic chemistry , hydrogen bond
Tough polymer hydrogels have great potential applications in soft actuators, artificial muscles, tissue engineering, and so forth. To improve the strength and toughness of hydrogels, numerous strategies have been developed to integrate efficient energy dissipation mechanisms into the hydrophilic networks. Among them, the use of macro‐crosslinkers to replace conventional chemical ones has become promising to develop tough hydrogels. Polymer colloids—including nano‐/microparticles, nano‐/microgels, hydrophobic associates, and block copolymer assemblies—have been employed in literature as multi‐functional macro‐crosslinkers that link polymer chains through covalent bonds or noncovalent interactions. The dislocation, deformation, desociation, and rupture of polymer colloids upon loadings are the major mechanisms to dissipate energy. This article provides a comprehensive account of most recent progresses on tough hydrogels crosslinked by polymer colloids, and explores the toughening mechanisms. It aims to inspire novel designs of tough hydrogels with multi‐functionalities. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56 , 1336–1350