Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities
Abstract Stretchable materials with low hysteresis and strong adhesion are needed in applications, but unifying the two contradictory mechanical properties is challenging. Herein, we propose the design principles of polymer networks that are hyperelastic yet adhesive by rationalizing mechanical hete...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61450-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849238298735673344 |
|---|---|
| author | Ping Zhang Haowei Ruan Qingxian Li Yunfeng He Canhui Yang |
| author_facet | Ping Zhang Haowei Ruan Qingxian Li Yunfeng He Canhui Yang |
| author_sort | Ping Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Stretchable materials with low hysteresis and strong adhesion are needed in applications, but unifying the two contradictory mechanical properties is challenging. Herein, we propose the design principles of polymer networks that are hyperelastic yet adhesive by rationalizing mechanical heterogeneities. The heterogeneous networks comprise a viscoelastic adhesive surface and a hyperelastic non-adhesive bulk. The former has a stiffness much smaller than that of the latter. We synthesize the networks by harnessing the oxygen inhibition mechanism, construct a polymerization phase diagram by reconciling the kinetics of polymerization and radical quenching of oxygen, and establish a power law criterion for the transition from a viscoelastic adhesive network to a hyperelastic adhesive network. We illustrate the principle with heterogeneous poly(butyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) networks, achieving hysteresis <5% and adhesion energy >300 J/m2. We show that the adhesion energy-thickness relation of hyperelastic adhesive polymer networks is nonlinear below a transition thickness. Hyperelastic and adhesive stretchable materials potentialize high-cycle and fatigue-resistant soft human-machine interfaces and beyond. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53b3d5008d734c78a1d2cf7463cb32c3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-53b3d5008d734c78a1d2cf7463cb32c32025-08-20T04:01:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-61450-5Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneitiesPing Zhang0Haowei Ruan1Qingxian Li2Yunfeng He3Canhui Yang4Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Soft Mechanics & Smart Manufacturing, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhen Key Laboratory of Soft Mechanics & Smart Manufacturing, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhen Key Laboratory of Soft Mechanics & Smart Manufacturing, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhen Key Laboratory of Soft Mechanics & Smart Manufacturing, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhen Key Laboratory of Soft Mechanics & Smart Manufacturing, Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering, Southern University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Stretchable materials with low hysteresis and strong adhesion are needed in applications, but unifying the two contradictory mechanical properties is challenging. Herein, we propose the design principles of polymer networks that are hyperelastic yet adhesive by rationalizing mechanical heterogeneities. The heterogeneous networks comprise a viscoelastic adhesive surface and a hyperelastic non-adhesive bulk. The former has a stiffness much smaller than that of the latter. We synthesize the networks by harnessing the oxygen inhibition mechanism, construct a polymerization phase diagram by reconciling the kinetics of polymerization and radical quenching of oxygen, and establish a power law criterion for the transition from a viscoelastic adhesive network to a hyperelastic adhesive network. We illustrate the principle with heterogeneous poly(butyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) networks, achieving hysteresis <5% and adhesion energy >300 J/m2. We show that the adhesion energy-thickness relation of hyperelastic adhesive polymer networks is nonlinear below a transition thickness. Hyperelastic and adhesive stretchable materials potentialize high-cycle and fatigue-resistant soft human-machine interfaces and beyond.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61450-5 |
| spellingShingle | Ping Zhang Haowei Ruan Qingxian Li Yunfeng He Canhui Yang Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities Nature Communications |
| title | Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities |
| title_full | Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities |
| title_fullStr | Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities |
| title_short | Resolving hyperelasticity-adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities |
| title_sort | resolving hyperelasticity adhesiveness conflict in polymer networks by in situ constructing mechanical heterogeneities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61450-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pingzhang resolvinghyperelasticityadhesivenessconflictinpolymernetworksbyinsituconstructingmechanicalheterogeneities AT haoweiruan resolvinghyperelasticityadhesivenessconflictinpolymernetworksbyinsituconstructingmechanicalheterogeneities AT qingxianli resolvinghyperelasticityadhesivenessconflictinpolymernetworksbyinsituconstructingmechanicalheterogeneities AT yunfenghe resolvinghyperelasticityadhesivenessconflictinpolymernetworksbyinsituconstructingmechanicalheterogeneities AT canhuiyang resolvinghyperelasticityadhesivenessconflictinpolymernetworksbyinsituconstructingmechanicalheterogeneities |