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Revealing Hidden Length by Force: Decoupling Modulus and Toughness in Network Gels
Shakkeeb Thazhathethil1, Xiaoran Hu1
1Department of Chemistry, BioInspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, United States.
ACS Central Science
|October 27, 2025
Summary
This study shows that reactive strand extension can separate toughness from modulus in gels. This finding is crucial for designing advanced polymer materials with tailored mechanical properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Rheology
Background:
- Toughness and modulus are key mechanical properties of polymer gels.
- Traditionally, increasing one often decreases the other, limiting material design.
- Understanding the relationship between these properties is essential for developing advanced materials.

