Tough polymer gels reinforced by strain-induced crystallization

Abstract

Recently, we reported that strain-induced crystallization (SIC) of the polymer chains occurs in homogeneous polymer gels, such as slide-ring gels and Tri-/Tetra-PEG gels, with sufficiently high polymer concentrations. SIC significantly improves the mechanical toughness of homogeneous gels. Polymer crystals form and dissolve immediately after the polymer gels are stretched and unstretched. The quick formation and dissolution of the strain-induced crystals leads to elastic mechanical responses with minimal hysteresis under cyclic stretching. Tough and elastic polymer gels have potential applications in biomedical materials (ex. artificial ligaments and tendons) and soft electric devices (ex. soft actuators and flexible batteries) under repeated deformation. We have discovered that strain-induced crystallization (SIC) of the polymer chains occurs in homogeneous polymer gels, such as slide-ring gels and Tri-/Tetra-PEG gels, with sufficiently high polymer concentrations. SIC significantly improves the mechanical toughness of homogeneous gels. Polymer crystals form and dissolve immediately after the polymer gels are stretched and unstretched. The quick formation and dissolution of the strain-induced crystals leads to elastic mechanical responses with minimal hysteresis under cyclic stretching. Tough and elastic polymer gels have potential applications in biomedical materials and soft electric devices under repeated deformation.