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Related Concept Videos

Cohesion01:07

Cohesion

Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same type, such as water molecules. Water molecules have an overall neutral charge but are polar molecule. An oxygen atom in one water molecule has a partial negative charge that can bind to a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge in a second water molecule, forming a hydrogen bond. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are responsible for water's cohesive nature.
On a surface,...
Hydrolysis01:15

Hydrolysis

Overview
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
Colloidal precipitates01:09

Colloidal precipitates

The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
Coagulation01:06

Coagulation

Colloidal solids are solid particles suspended in solution. They are usually negatively charged, attracting a compact primary layer of positively charged ions, which attract more counterions to form an electrical double layer. Electrostatic repulsion between the charged double layers prevents the particles from colliding, stabilizing the colloids. These solids are often undesirable because they can contain toxins that are difficult to remove. Coagulation is a technique that helps aggregate and...
Pore Size Distribution01:23

Pore Size Distribution

In concrete, the pore size distribution significantly influences the material's properties. Capillary pores, markedly larger than gel pores, form a vast network within partially hydrated cement paste, reducing the concrete's strength and increasing its permeability. This heightened permeability leads to a greater risk of damage from environmental factors like freeze-thaw cycles and chemical attacks, with the extent of vulnerability also being tied to the water-to-cement ratio.
Adequate...
Microcracking in Concrete01:20

Microcracking in Concrete

Microcracking in concrete refers to the tiny cracks that can form within the material even before any external load is applied. These microcracks typically occur at the interface between the coarse aggregate and the hydrated cement paste, often as a result of differential volume changes prompted by variations in stress-strain behavior, as well as thermal and moisture movement. Initially, these microcracks remain stable and do not grow substantially until the concrete is stressed to about 30...

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Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Polyethylene glycol and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation
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Toughening hydrogels with small molecules: tiny matter, big impact.

Zhihua Sha1, Xin Chen1, Hao Song1

  • 1College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China. cuiwei@scu.edu.cn.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Small molecules can significantly enhance hydrogel mechanical properties by altering their structure. This review explores how these molecules induce transformations for tougher hydrogels and outlines design strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymer networks capable of absorbing large amounts of water.
  • Small molecules diffuse within hydrogels, influencing network structure via crosslinking, phase separation, or crystallization.
  • Small molecules can enhance hydrogel mechanical performance through direct interactions or environmental modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the role of small molecules in hydrogel toughening.
  • To outline design strategies for creating tough hydrogels using small molecule-induced effects.
  • To highlight advanced applications and future challenges in this field.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on small molecule-induced structural transformations in hydrogels.
  • Analysis of how these transformations impact hydrogel mechanical properties.
  • Identification of design principles and applications.

Main Results:

  • Small molecules induce structural changes (ionic crosslinking, phase separation, crystallization) that significantly enhance hydrogel toughness.
  • Various design strategies leverage these small molecule effects for material development.
  • Cutting-edge applications demonstrate the potential of these advanced hydrogels.

Conclusions:

  • Small molecules are crucial for developing mechanically robust and tough hydrogels.
  • Understanding small molecule-network interactions is key to designing next-generation soft materials.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges and unlock the full potential of small molecule-modified hydrogels.