Design of functional hydrogel and evaluation of its material properties

Abstract

Recently, several chemo-mechanical functions of high molecular polymers were studied for their biomimetic properties, sensor and switch function, enormous actuator and output energies, as possible candidates for energy transducers etc. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly-sodium-acrylic-acid (PAA-Na) were selected as raw-materials from a number of high molecular materials for making up new type gels, especially a design of functional hydrogel. For this PAV-PAA-Na hydrogel, tensile tests and swelling examinations were carried out in wet conditions. The microstructure of gels was observed by SEM. Many interesting results were found; the swelling mechanism, various mechanical properties and microstructure of hydrogel were evaluated.