Construction and Properties of Hydrophobic Association Hydrogels with High Mechanical Strength and Reforming Capability

Hydrophobic association hydrogels (HA-gels) with almost ideal properties were successfully prepared by micellar copolymerization, and the associated micelles acted as physical cross-linking points in the network of HA-gels. HA-gels exhibit exceptional mechanical properties and transparency. However, the most striking properties are that HA-gels possess the capability of self-healing and remolding, which is mainly due to the dissociation and re-association process of the associated micelles. Dried-gels, which were prepared by stretching HA-gels to a certain elongation for a period of time in the air, can be used as shrinkable or thermal sensitivity materials. HA-gels have a broad selectivity for components, so we have synthesized HA-gels with variously available properties by changing a corresponding component: thermoresponsive HA-gels, nanosphere-composite HA-gels, and fluorescent HA-gels. Therefore, we are sure that HA-gels will be widely used in various fields, such as biology, medication, sensors, optics, and oil exploitation.