Hydrophilic Double-Network Polymers that Sustain High Mechanical Modulus under 80% Humidity

The effects of water on the mechanical properties of synthetic hydrophilic polymers with double-network (DN) structures were studied under different relative humidities (RH). It was found that they could sustain nearly the same high Young's modulus as dry DN polymers in the RH range 10-80% (water content 3-17 wt %), that is, more than 10² MPa. However, when the RH exceeds 80%, DN polymers abruptly absorb large amounts of water (water content 90 wt %) and transform to a highly water-swollen "gel state" with a decrease in the Young's modulus of 3 orders of magnitude. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that water molecules below RH 80% are strongly bound to hydrophilic moieties with highly restricted mobility; water under such states improves rather than reduces mechanical properties by behaving as a plasticizer. DN polymers capable of sustaining high mechanical properties, even under RH 80%, have potential uses as hydrophilic materials.