Essay topic:Fracture Behaviour of Bacterial Cellulose Hydrogel: Microstructural Effect
Ambit:Functional polymer
Author:Xing Gaoa, Zhijun Shib, Changqing Liua, Guang Yangb, and Vadim V Silberschmidta*
Key words:fracture behaviour,bacterial cellulose hydrogel,microstructural effect,high watercintent,porosity
Source: journal
Specific source :ScienceDirect
Published:2016
Abstract:
A growing interest in fibrous biomaterials,especially hydrogels,is due to a fact that they promise a good potential in biomedical applications thanks to their attractive biological properties and similar microstructure that mimics its in vivo environment. Since they are usually employed as a main load-bearing-component when introduced into body environment, a comprehensive understanding of their application-relevant mechanical behaviour, such as deformation and fracture, as well as structure-function relationships is essential. To date, deformation behaviour and mechanisms of hydrogels were well documented; still, a lack of understanding of their fracture behaviour, especially structure-function relationships, could complicate an evaluation of their applicability. Hence, this work carried out four types of test – uniaxial tension, single-notch, double-notch and central-notch fracture testing – to investigate fracture behaviour of fully-hydrated and freeze-dried bacterial cellulose (BC) hydrogel. Our results support a significant role of interstitial water – free and bonded water – played in fracture behaviour of the studied BC hydrogel.