Self-Healing and Self-Recovering Hydrogels

This volume covers experimental and theoretical advances ontherelationship between composition, structure and macroscopic mechanical properties ofnovel hydrogels containing dynamic bonds. Thechapters ofthis volume focus onthecontrol ofthemechanical properties ofseveral recently discovered gels withthedesign ofmonomer composition, chain architecture, type ofcrosslinking or internal structure. Thegels discussed in thedifferent chapters have in common thecapability todissipate energy upon deformation, a desired property formechanical toughness, while retaining theability torecover theproperties ofthevirgin material over time or toself-heal when put back in contact after fracture. Some chapters focus onthesynthesis and structural aspects while others focus onproperties or modelling atthecontinuum or mesoscopicscale.Thevolume will be ofinterest tochemists and material scientists byproviding guidelines and general structure-property considerations tosynthesize and develop innovative gels tuned forapplications. In addition it will provide physicists witha better understanding oftherole ofweak interactions between molecules and physical crosslinking onmacroscopic dissipative properties and self-healing or self-recovering properties.