Study on mechanical model of double network hydrogel with extremely high strength

Abstract

To take advantage of the toughness mechanism of Double Network Hydrogels (DN gels) and explore the possibility for applications in engineering as a structural member, the establishment of a mechanical model of DN gels is indispensable. Therefore, in this paper, we, at first, propose the development of the equations of a dynamic model, which depends on the number of molecular chain segments of the DN gel and is based on the affine molecular chain network theory. A 8-chain affine model reproduces the affine deformation of DN-gels successfully. Finally, a simulation is performed for the nonuniform DN gel and the microscopic distribution of the number of molecular chain segments and the stress are calculated.