Extremely stretchable and tough hybrid hydrogels based on gelatin, κ-carrageenan and polyacrylamide

Soft Matter. 2021 Nov 3;17(42):9708-9715. doi: 10.1039/d1sm01135a.

Abstract

Nowadays, several approaches are being suggested to endow hydrogels with improved mechanical properties for practical applications as cartilage and skin replacements, soft electronics, and actuators. However, it remains a challenge to develop DN gels with both high fracture toughness and fracture stretch. Here, we introduce (bio)polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) consisting of gelatin and κ-carrageenan as the first brittle network and covalently crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAAm) as the second stretchable network to fabricate a highly stretchable and notch-insensitive gelatin/κ-carrageenan/PAAm hydrogel. The unprecedented high stretchability (∼51.7) is ascribed to the reduction of stress concentration and defects in the network structure through the fracture of the PEC gel. In addition, a high fracture toughness (∼16053.34 J m-2) is achieved by effective energy transfer between the PECs and PAAm gel due to their covalent crosslinking, and efficient energy dissipation through destroying inter- and intramolecular interactions in the PEC gel.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Carrageenan
  • Gelatin*
  • Hydrogels*
  • Polyelectrolytes

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Hydrogels
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Carrageenan
  • Gelatin
  • polyacrylamide