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

在自然界中，材料通常表现出难以置信的机械性能，这在合成材料中是无法复制的。这些特性大多源于几乎所有结构化生物材料本质上都是复合材料这一事实。例如，人类的肌腱由两种聚合物组成：胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白，前者能有效吸收和耗散能量，但在很大程度上是不可拉伸的；后者可拉伸，但耗散能量能力差。在这个项目中，我们将寻求设计和机械测试柔软的多组分材料，可以匹配，并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，两个共纠缠的聚合物网络在水中共同组装。每种聚合物的个别材料性质完全相反，并相互协同支持。虽然水凝胶通常被认为是脆弱的材料，但这种机械协同作用使它们非常强大。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不同产品在健康、卫生和营养应用方面的要求。通过设计、合成和测试，我们将研究如何控制双网络的微观结构和组装条件，从而创造出强大的可生物降解的替代品，以取代柔软的合成材料。

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.