title: Strengthening alginate/polyacrylamide hydrogels using various multivalent cations.
abstract: We successfully synthesized a family of alginate/polyacrylamide hydrogels using various multivalent cations. These hydrogels exhibit exceptional mechanical properties. In particular, we discovered that the hydrogels cross-linked by trivalent cations are much stronger than those cross-linked by divalent cations. We demonstrate stretchability and toughness of the hydrogels by inflating a hydrogel sheet into a large balloon, and the elasticity by using a hydrogel block as a vibration isolator in a forced vibration test. The excellent mechanical properties of these hydrogels may open up applications for hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, International Center for Applied Mechanics, and School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an 710049, China.
authors.forename: Can Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mei Xiang
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Jian Hai
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jeong-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jinxiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suo
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002412:Cations; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D000099166:Polyacrylamides