title: Reliable Hydrogel with Mechanical "Fuse Link" in an Aqueous Environment.
abstract: A robust hydrogel with a reliable deformation region in an aqueous environment is proposed. The gel has a homogeneous network where hydrophilic/hydrophobic components are uniformly distributed. In an aqueous environment, aggregated hydrophobic segments serve as "mechanical fuse links," inhibiting sudden macroscopic fracture. The gel endures threefold stretching for more than 100 cycles in water without mechanical hysteresis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hiroi
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1045 Daedeok-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-353, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1045 Daedeok-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-353, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8581, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Ung-il
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Takamasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D020100:Hydrogels; D014867:Water; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C013830:baysilon
keywords: APCN gels; elastic deformation; hydrogels; mechanical reliability; plastic deformation