Highly stretchable and self-healable polymer gels from physical entanglements of ultrahigh–molecular weight polymers

Authors: Yuji Kamiyama, Ryota Tamate, Takashi Hiroi, Sadaki Samitsu, Kenta Fujii, Takeshi Ueki

Published: 2022-10-19

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add0226

Source: Full article

---

Abstract

Highly stretchable and self-healing polymer gels formed solely by physical entanglements of ultrahigh–molecular weight (UHMW) polymers were fabricated through a facile one-step process. Radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in ionic liquids under very low initiator concentration conditions produced UHMW polymers of more than 10