title: Rheological study on rapid recovery of hydrogel based on oligomeric electrolyte.
abstract: The hydrogel consisting of an oligomeric electrolyte, poly[pyridinium-1,4-diyl-iminocarbonyl-1,4-phenylenemethylene chloride] (1-Cl) underwent self-healing at temperatures lower than its gelation temperature after destruction of the gel network in a shear flow. The self-healing mechanism was investigated by rheological measurements on three different kinds of gels including a low-molecular weight organogelator and a polymeric hydrogelator. Although all of the three gels exhibited thermo-reversible hysteresis loops in the shear moduli, only 1-Cl hydrogel recovered its mechanical properties after vigorous agitation. It is conjectured that the self-healing is due to formation of network structure via a chlorine ion mediated hydrogen bond for which the activation energy is on the order of 10 kJ/mol.
authors: Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
authors: Shyamal Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Kundu
authors: Takuro
authors: T
authors: Matsunaga
authors: Masaru
authors: M
authors: Yoshida
authors: Mitsuhiro
authors: M
authors: Shibayama