Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Svetlana Laishevkina, Natalia Shevchenko, Olga Iakobson, Anatoly Dobrodumov, Vladimir Chelibanov, Elena Tomsik
Summary: This study investigated the complex of sulfonic cryogels and PEDOT as an example of conductive hydrogels, revealing the relationship between their structural features and electrochemical properties.
Article
Polymer Science
Alexandros Chremos, Matan Mussel, Jack F. Douglas, Ferenc Horkay
Summary: Polyelectrolyte gels play important roles in biological tissues, providing a structural framework and a medium for the transportation of ions and molecules. In this study, we focus on modeling the partitioning of ions in polyelectrolyte gels immersed in monovalent or divalent salt solutions. We find that the ion partition coefficients scale with salt concentration, with divalent ions having higher coefficients than monovalent ions.
Article
Polymer Science
Ekaterina B. Zhulina, Oleg V. Borisov
Summary: We studied the dispersion of cylindrical polyelectrolyte brushes with rigid backbones and polymer-decorated nanorods with tunable solubility. The thermodynamic stability of the dispersions was affected by the brush-forming PE chains. We focused on the conformational transition caused by thermal and deionization stimuli, which resulted in the loss of dispersion stability in weakly ionized polyion-decorated nanorods. Theoretical predictions were compared with experimental results to provide rationalization and semi-quantitative interpretation.
Article
Polymer Science
Susan K. Kozawa, Audrey Lord, Jonah J. Scott-McKean, Anne Y. Walker, Alberto C. S. Costa, Gary E. Wnek
Summary: This study presents an effective method for producing crosslinked, partially neutralized poly(acrylic acid) gel threads using coaxial electrospinning to achieve diameters of a few microns, along with the generation of suitable PAA gel particles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiang Zhan, Heyu Sun, Manman Xie, Junping Han, Li Chen, Yiping Zhao
Summary: In this study, composite gels containing sodium alginate/chitosan were prepared with the introduction of chitosan on polyamidoamine. The SCPP-G2 composite gel showed higher stability and greater adsorption capacity for dyes. Chemical adsorption was found to be the dominant mechanism for dye adsorption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yui Tsuji, Mitsuhiro Shibayama, Xiang Li
Summary: The effects of neutralization and salt on the structure and mechanical properties of polyacrylic acid (PAA) gels under equivolume conditions were studied using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements and tensile tests. The results showed that neutralization decreased scattering intensity and Young's modulus, while the addition of salt increased scattering intensity with little effect on Young's modulus. The newly developed equivolume post-ion-tuning technique may provide a new standard scheme for studying polyelectrolyte gels.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Y. Ji, A. M. Dagro, G. Dorgant, D. Starr, J. W. Wilkerson
Summary: In this paper, four experimental approaches, including classic shear rheology, static indentation, cavitation rheology, and low-velocity impact, are applied to determine the Young's modulus of an ultra-soft tri-block copolymer. The study finds a slight strain-rate dependence in gel stiffness across different concentrations, with cavitation rheology showing a clear correlation with high-strain rate tests. This paper makes significant contributions to the knowledge of cavitation rheology and provides a comprehensive analysis of stiffness measurement techniques in soft polymeric gels.
EXPERIMENTAL MECHANICS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Kai Zhang, Hang Xu, Xiao-xuan Kong, Chen-yang Zhang, Hai-feng Lu, Dong He
Summary: Geopolymers are environmentally friendly cementing materials with broad application prospects in geotechnical engineering. This study investigates the composition and mechanical properties of slag geopolymers and reveals the influence mechanism of mechanical properties on the molecular scale. The results provide insight into the potential of raw materials to form specific gel phases and guide the scientific preparation of high-performance geopolymer materials.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Sara Moon Villa, Mirko Maturi, Tommaso Santaniello, Lorenzo Migliorini, Erica Locatelli, Mauro Comes Franchini, Paolo Milani
Summary: A modular system for quantitative characterization of the piezoelectric coefficient of piezoelectric polymers and soft polymeric nanocomposites in the compression mode is presented. The system provides spectral information on the electro-mechanical response with high sensitivity, enabling repeatability and reproducibility of the characterization in the low-force regime. This system proves to be an effective solution for the systematic characterization of the electro-mechanical conversion properties of soft piezoelectric materials in soft robotics and energy harvesting applications.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Sheng Geng, Zhaojing Jiang, Hanjun Ma, Pei Pu, Benguo Liu, Guizhao Liang
Summary: In this study, edible Pickering emulsion gels stabilized by dihydromyricetin were successfully fabricated for the first time. Dihydromyricetin particles were shown to form rod-shaped crystals with amphiphilicity, contributing to the formation of a 3D steric network that stabilizes oil-in-water emulsion gels. Factors such as dihydromyricetin concentration and oil-phase weight fraction significantly influenced the gel properties, with alkali and low ionic strength conditions enhancing gel stability. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the experimental findings of dihydromyricetin's behavior at the oil-water interface.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Young Kyoung Hong, Masahiko Nakamoto, Michiya Matsusaki
Summary: An enzyme-fueled transient volume phase transition (TVPT) of hydrogels under out-of-equilibrium conditions is achieved by incorporating methacrylic acid and acrylated trypsin in a polymeric hydrogel. The intake of lysozyme as fuel triggers the construction/destruction of electrostatic cross-linkages, leading to transient shrinkage/swelling of the gel accompanied by the depletion of lysozyme activity. The system's response can be programmed by adjusting the fuel concentration and chemical composition of materials, making it suitable for biomedical applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Chong-hao Bi, Shang-yi Chi, Tong Zhou, Xue-ying Wang, Jia-yi Zhang, Zhi-gang Huang, Fei Gao
Summary: This study investigated a novel high-internal-phase Pickering emulsion (HIPPE) prepared by acid-induced self-assembly SPI gel (A/S-SPIG). The results showed that HIPPEs exhibited typical shear thinning emulsion behavior and could form stable emulsions at different SPI concentrations. The network structure of HIPPE stabilized by A/S-SPIG particles was continuously enhanced with increasing SPI concentration, leading to improved thermal stability and cohesive properties. Additionally, HIPPE at a concentration of 1.2% demonstrated the best stability against delamination, indicating the excellent performance of A/S-SPIG as a HIPPE stabilizer.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Jianlong Zhang, Chunguo Zhang, Shengyong Mu, Shuai Wang, Hongchang Li
Summary: In this study, a method combining continuous indentation test and numerical simulation was established to accurately acquire the mechanical properties of nickel-based alloy 600 before and after creep. The high stress creep constitutive equation of alloy 600 in autoclave environment was obtained, and the influencing factors of mechanical properties were analyzed. The results showed that the mechanical properties of nickel-based alloy 600 increased with the increase of creep time, and the indentation test model verified by numerical simulation provided a nondestructive way to obtain the mechanical property parameters.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Zireen Z. A. Majeed, Nelson T. K. Lam, Emad F. Gad
Summary: This article adapts and validates a theoretical model based on solid mechanics principles for predicting localised damage on a concrete surface, which can be used to predict denting and spalling using MATLAB or EXCEL. The accuracy of the theoretical model has been confirmed through large-scale impact testing and finite element simulations, demonstrating its potential utility in engineering practices.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMPACT ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Animesh Basak, Alokesh Pramanik, Chander Prakash, Ketan Kotecha
Summary: This research investigates the micro-mechanical behavior of the superficial layer synthesized on Ti64 alloy by electric discharge machining. The study reveals that the brittle structure of the superficial layer reduces mechanical performance, requiring post-surface treatments for better product performance.