Abstract
We measured the friction forces and calculated the friction coefficients of non-processed and laser-processed surfaces of a double network hydrogel (DN gel), which is one of the more famous high-strength gels. The results indicate that laser processing has the ability to reduce the friction coefficients of the gel surfaces. The observation of gel surfaces suggests that the cause of friction reduction is a change in the roughness of the gel surfaces due to laser processing. This finding is expected to lead us to further understanding of the physicochemical properties of hydrogels.
Highlights
Friction and lubrication have been studied for several hundred years
We developed the friction control technique of hydrogel surfaces [27]
We show a novel method for the low-friction processing of double network hydrogel (DN gel) using a laser, which increases the roughness of the gel surface
Summary
Friction and lubrication have been studied for several hundred years. Recently, the friction properties of soft materials, such as polymers and hydrogels, have received attention in regard to their physics and/or physical chemistry. It was revealed that the water molecules inside the hydrogel are moved to interface between the hydrogel and electrode, which forms the lubricant film owing to the applied electric field, and reduces the friction force Such a friction control technique is expected to be applied to developing the epoch-making soft-type robots. An ultrafast laser processing is widely utilized [28] In this communication, we show a novel method for the low-friction processing of DN gel using a laser, which increases the roughness of the gel surface. By utilizing low-friction processing and such previously obtained knowledges and techniques, artificial living tissues composed of cell models and polymer gel ECMs can be developed
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