Mechanical properties of hydrogels

When a water-soluble polymer is chemically crosslinked, it forms a network which swells but no longer dissolves in water. This water-swollen crosslinked polymer is then called a hydrogel.

Although the equilibrium swelling properties and the elastic properties of hydrogels have been well studied, their large-strain and fracture properties remain poorly understood.

More specifically, while most hydrogels are rather weak solids, certain types of hydrogels can be quite strong, due to their specific network architecture. The reasons of this exceptional toughness are poorly understood

More info

G. Miquelard-Garnier, C. Creton, D. Hourdet "Synthesis and rheological behaviour of new hydrophobically modified hydrogels" World Polymer Congress, 41’ International Symposium on Macromolecules, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 16-21th july 2006