Leveraging the Mechanics of Double Network Hydrogels as Soft, Strong Materials

在自然界中，材料往往表现出令人难以置信的机械性能，这是合成材料无法复制的。这些特性很大程度上源于这样一个事实，即几乎所有的结构化生物材料本质上都是复合材料。例如，在人类的肌腱中，肌腱由两种聚合物组成：胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白，胶原蛋白可以有效地吸收和消耗能量，但在很大程度上是不可伸展的；弹性蛋白可以伸展，但分散能量的能力很差。在这个项目中，我们将寻求设计和机械测试软质多组分材料，这些材料可以与合成橡胶匹敌，甚至有可能超过合成橡胶的能力。为了解决这个问题，我们将利用一种被称为双网络水凝胶的技术。在这里，两个相互缠绕的聚合物网络在水中共同组装。每种聚合物各自的材料性质截然相反，并相互协同支持。虽然水凝胶通常被认为是弱材料，但这种机械协同作用使它们具有非常强的强度。在这个由利洁时支持的项目中，我们正在寻求合成水凝胶复合材料，并优化其材料性能，以满足其品牌组合中健康、卫生和营养应用的不同产品的要求。通过设计、合成和测试，我们将研究如何控制双网络的微结构和组装条件，作为创造软合成材料的强可生物降解性替代品的途径。

In nature materials often exhibit incredible mechanical properties that are not reproducible in synthetic materials. Much of these properties arise from the fact that almost all structured biomaterials are composite in nature. In humans, for example, tendons are composed of two polymers: collagen, which is effective at absorbing and dissipating energy but largely inextensible, and elastin, which is extensible but poor at dissipating energy. In this project we will seek to design and mechanically test soft multi-component materials that can match, and potentially exceed, the capabilities of synthetic rubbers. To address this problem, we will leverage a technology known as double network hydrogels. Here, two co-entangled polymer networks are co-assembled in water. The individual material properties of each polymer diametrically opposed and synergistically support each other. While hydrogels are typically considered weak materials, this mechanical synergy enables them to be remarkably strong. In this project - supported by Reckitt - we are seeking to synthesise hydrogel composites and optimise their material properties to meet the requirements of different products within their portfolio of brands for health, hygiene, and nutrition applications. Through design, synthesis, and testing, we will investigate how controlling the microstructure and assembly conditions of double networks can be conceived as a route to creating strong biodegradable alternatives to soft, synthetic materials.