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Scaling dynamics of globule-to-coil phase transition in double-network hydrogel with ultra-high stretchable strength

Haibao Lu, Ziyu Xing, Mokarram Hossain Orcid Logo, Jinsong Leng

Smart Materials and Structures, Volume: 29, Issue: 8

Swansea University Author: Mokarram Hossain Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1088/1361-665x/ab9e0c

Abstract

Temperature-induced globule-to-coil transition in polymers has well been studied, and it is dependent strongly on temperature in their solutions due to significantly conformational changes of polymer molecules. In this study, a scaling framework is firstly developed to investigate stress-induced glo...

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Published in: Smart Materials and Structures
ISSN: 0964-1726 1361-665X
Published: IOP Publishing 2020
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54526
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Abstract: Temperature-induced globule-to-coil transition in polymers has well been studied, and it is dependent strongly on temperature in their solutions due to significantly conformational changes of polymer molecules. In this study, a scaling framework is firstly developed to investigate stress-induced globule-to-coil transition in double-network (DN) hydrogels with an ultra-high stretchable strength. Free energy and globule radius functions are introduced to formulate the constitutive relationship of the DN hydrogels, in which stress-induced swelling and globule-to-coil transition are described for the hydrotropic and relatively hydrophobic networks, respectively. A cooperative free energy model based on the Flory-Huggins solution theory is then proposed for the DN hydrogels. The effectiveness of model is demonstrated by applying it to predict stress-induced globule-to-coil transitions in DN hydrogels and elastomers, where the theoretical results show good agreements with the experimental ones. We expect this study explores the scaling dynamics and provides an effective guidance on designing advanced ultra-high mechanical performance in DN hydrogel and elastomer.
Keywords: double-network hydrogel, globule-coil transition, cooperative dynamics
Issue: 8

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