British bioengineers have created a jelly-like gel that, when compressed, becomes as hard as glass.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge (UK) have developed a jelly-like material composed of 80% water. When compressed, it acquires new properties and becomes superhard like glass.
This is made possible by its molecular structure. To obtain this polymer, the authors used cucurbituril as a crosslinker. He is able to “shackle like handcuffs” and hold two adjacent molecules. This allows the hydrogel to carry enormous loads and heal itself.
According to the developers, the “super jelly” can support the weight of an elephant. They put a sample of the material on the ground, and since the elephant was not at hand, they drove over it in a car. After that, the hydrogel easily took its previous shape.
The report says that the new material will be useful in biomedicine, for example, for replacing cartilage, and in robotics.
Earlier, an international team of scientists created a composite for implants, similar to human bone. It is made from magnesium and titanium and has unique strength and ductility.
