Double‐Network Hydrogels with Extremely High Mechanical Strength

Abstract

Very strong hydrogels (with a fracture strength of some tens of MPa) , as required for both industrial and biomedical applications, have been generated by inducing a double‐network (DN) structure for various combinations of hydrophilic polymers. The Figure shows a hydrogel before, during, and after application of a fracture stress of 17.2 MPa.