Fabric-Embedded Adhesive Hydrogel with Selective Double Network Reinforcement for Enhanced Adhesion and Mechanical Toughness
발표자
김경섭 (KAIST)
연구책임자
스티브 박 (KAIST)
초록
내용
Recent research on hydrogel adhesives has shifted from focusing only on adhesion strength to reinforcing mechanical integrity. Poor cohesion limits adhesive performance, especially on mechanically demanding substrates. However, improving toughness often compromises adhesion due to competition for covalent bonding. To address this, we developed a fabric-embedded adhesive hydrogel that separates mechanical reinforcement from surface adhesion. A reinforcing fabric was embedded within the hydrogel, and an ionic crosslinker solution was selectively infused through it, inducing localized double-network formation. This formed a tough core while preserving a soft, adhesive surface. The hydrogel is composed of polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, and polyacrylamide, with calcium chloride enabling ionic crosslinking. As a result, our adhesive achieved 43% higher adhesion strength and a 2300% increase in toughness compared to conventional hydrogels with the same composition.