Scientists have created a hydrogel that turns into solid glass under pressure
A research team from the University of Cambridge said they have developed a completely new type of soft material that can easily withstand heavy loads.
Scientists have created a unique internal structure with "molecular handcuffs", which made it possible to obtain a structure that reacts in a special way for compression.
During compression, such a hydrogel passes into a special state like glass, which makes it possible to obtain a particularly durable material.
New material and its possible use prospects
Specialists such as materials scientists are interested in hydrogels. After all, the increased water content in them (hydrogels) and high elasticity with self-healing properties quite allows their use in robotics, artificial tissues, medicine, as well as directly in the body person.
To expand the possibilities of application, the authors in their next study decided to change the molecular structure and thus expand the possibilities of their application.
During laboratory experiments, it was decided to use the so-called barrel-shaped molecules, which are called cucurbituriles, these literally lock others in their inner cavity molecules.
Next, molecules were used that were specifically designed to stay inside these cucurbiturils for as long as possible, in order to achieve the effect of maintaining a tightly connected network.
The result was a hydrogel that was able to change from a rubbery state to a superhard safety glass.
After that, the engineers conducted an experiment and clamped the resulting "super gel" between two metal plates and literally ran over it with a machine.
So, it could be assumed that the material, which is 80% water, should have collapsed very quickly, but it withstood the pressure and very quickly returned to its original state.
You can watch the compression experiment in the video below.
Thus, for the first time, scientists managed to obtain glass-like hydrogels and scientists are already working on the creation of such the material of new pressure sensors, in addition, engineers are actively working on adapting the hydrogel to the needs of medicine, as well as robotics.
The scientists shared the results of the work already done on the pages of the Internet publication Nature Materials.
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