2024-07-04 04:00:14
A new class of promising materials has been developed by American researchers. Called “glassy gels”, these materials combine impressive hardness and flexibility properties, opening the way to many potential applications.
Glassy gels are composed of rigid polymers, similar to those used in the manufacture of water bottles or airplane windows, combined with ionic liquids. This unique combination allows the material to retain more than 50% of its content in liquid while remaining hard and difficult to break. In fact, these gels can stretch up to five times their length original without breaking, unlike conventional glassy polymers, which are generally brittle.
Michael Dickey, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at North Carolina State University and corresponding author of the study, explains: “We created materials as hard as glassy polymers but capable of stretching considerably under pressure force sufficient. In addition, these materials can return to their original shape under the effect of heat.” These properties are obtained thanks to the strong electrostatic interactions between the ions of the solvent and polymer chains, which prevents the latter from moving while increasing the free space between them.
Glassy gels are also distinguished by their excellent electrical conductivity, superior to that of conventional plastics. Meixiang Wang, co-lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University, points out: “Their high liquid content makes them more efficient at conducting theelectricity than plastics with similar physical characteristics.”
Making the glassy gels is relatively simple: Researchers mix the liquid precursors of the polymers with an ionic liquid, then expose the mixture to a light ultraviolet light to harden it. This easy process makes it possible to produce these materials cost-effectively, whether by casting or 3D printing.
Another major advantage of vitreous gels is their self-healing ability. In the event of a cut or break, a simple application of heat allows the material to heal itself. This property, combined with their high adhesiveness, makes these gels particularly interesting for applications such as soft robotic grippers or medical devices.
The researchers, whose study was published in Naturetested various polymers and ionic liquids to create these gels, opening the door to a multitude of possible combinations to meet specific needs. Although not all classes of polymers are suitable, those that are charged or polar seem particularly promising.
Thus, glassy gels represent a significant advance in the field of materials. Easy to produce, stretchable, self-repairing and conductive, they offer considerable potential for many industrial and technological applications.
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