Understanding elasticity and swellability of polymer gels from a perspective of polymer/solvent interaction

Polymer gels are three-dimensional polymer networks swollen by solvents. They exhibit high elasticity and swellability and are widely used in many fields. The design, development, and application of these materials are all dependent on a precise understanding of molecular mechanisms of elasticity and swellability. The development of a model polymer gel system with a uniform structure and low degree of defects facilitates the test of these mechanisms. This review summarized the recent progress in understanding the local polymer/solvent interaction in determining the elasticity and swellability of the model polymer gels. A particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between the conformation of the precursor chains on a microscopic scale and the modulus and swelling ratio of polymer gels on a macroscopic scale under the influence of the polymer/solvent interaction. Knowledge of the relationship plays a vital role in the future development of novel functional polymer gel materials.