Fig. 2: Preparation and mechanical properties of hydrogel fibers.
From: Hierarchically structuralized hydrogels with ligament-like mechanical performance
a Schematic illustration depicting hydrogel fiber fabrication procedure: extrusion, freezing-thawing (FT), and salting-out (S) processes. b Storage modulus (G’) and loss modulus (G”) as a function of oscillation stress and (c) viscosity as a function of shear rate for PVA–NC mixtures with different NC content. d Viscosity and photographs of PVA–NC mixtures with different NC contents. The viscosity value is a representative value at the shear rate of 1 s−1. Scale bar, 5 mm. Stress-strain curves of PVA–NC/FT/S hydrogel fibers formed with varying FT cycles and S treatment by a different salt solution type: (e) 1.5 M Na2SO4, and (f) 1.5 M Na3Citrate. g Stress-strain curves of PVA–NC/FT hydrogel fibers formed with varying FT cycles without salting-out. h Tensile strength and elastic modulus of the PVA–NC/FT/S hydrogel fibers processed by a single FT cycle and 1.5 M Na3Citrate salt solution. Data are presented as mean ± s.d. (n = 3).
