Mechanical Properties
of End-Linked PEG/PDMS Hydrogels
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Abstract
Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
hydrogels
were synthesized by cross-linking norbornene end-functionalized polymers
with a tetrafunctional thiol using thiol–norbornene chemistry.
The swelling capacity and mechanical properties, including the Young’s
modulus (<i>E</i>) and fracture toughness (<i>G</i><sub>c</sub>), of the hydrogels were characterized and quantified
as a function of the volume fractions of PEG and PDMS. <i>E</i> and <i>G</i><sub>c</sub> increased simultaneously with
the volume fraction of PDMS. The moduli of the hydrogels were quantitatively
described and predicted as a function of the volume fraction ratio
of PEG to PDMS using the Voigt and Reuss models. The fracture toughness
was well described by the Lake–Thomas theory at low volume
fractions of PDMS. As the volume fraction of PDMS increased, PDMS
not only controlled the swelling capacity of the hydrogels but also
contributed to hydrogel toughness