Bio-inspired hydrogel can rapidly switch to rigid plastic
Wednesday, December 4, 2019 - 08:30
in Physics & Chemistry
Hokkaido University researchers have developed a hydrogel that does the opposite of what polymer-based materials, like plastic bottles, normally do: their material hardens when heated and softens when cooled. Their findings, published in the journal Advanced Materials, could lead to the fabrication of protective clothing items for traffic and sports-related accidents.