Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance
Abstract Strong and lightweight materials are highly desired. Here we report the emergence of a compressive strength exceeding 2 GPa in a directly printed poly(ethylene glycol) micropillar. This strong and highly crosslinked micropillar is not brittle, instead, it behaves like rubber under compressi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59742-x |
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| _version_ | 1849326624208584704 |
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| author | Letian Zheng Heyi Liang Jin Tang Qiang Zheng Fang Chen Lian Wang Qi Li |
| author_facet | Letian Zheng Heyi Liang Jin Tang Qiang Zheng Fang Chen Lian Wang Qi Li |
| author_sort | Letian Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Strong and lightweight materials are highly desired. Here we report the emergence of a compressive strength exceeding 2 GPa in a directly printed poly(ethylene glycol) micropillar. This strong and highly crosslinked micropillar is not brittle, instead, it behaves like rubber under compression. Experimental results show that the micropillar sustains a strain approaching 70%, absorbs energy up to 310 MJ/m3, and displays an almost 100% recovery after cyclic loading. Simple micro-lattices (e.g., honeycombs) of poly(ethylene glycol) also display high strength at low structural densities. By combining a series of control experiments, computational simulations and in situ characterization, we find that the key to achieving such mechanical performance lies in the fabrication of a highly homogeneous structure with suppressed defect formation. Our discovery unveils a generalizable approach for achieving a performance leap in polymeric materials and provides a complementary approach to enhance the mechanical performance of low-density latticed structures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4b18f3da7cc4ce98acb8449aadf733c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4b18f3da7cc4ce98acb8449aadf733c2025-08-20T03:48:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-011611810.1038/s41467-025-59742-xMicrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performanceLetian Zheng0Heyi Liang1Jin Tang2Qiang Zheng3Fang Chen4Lian Wang5Qi Li6Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityPritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of ChicagoMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityChemistry Instrumentation Center, Zhejiang UniversityCollege of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal UniversityMinistry of Education Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Strong and lightweight materials are highly desired. Here we report the emergence of a compressive strength exceeding 2 GPa in a directly printed poly(ethylene glycol) micropillar. This strong and highly crosslinked micropillar is not brittle, instead, it behaves like rubber under compression. Experimental results show that the micropillar sustains a strain approaching 70%, absorbs energy up to 310 MJ/m3, and displays an almost 100% recovery after cyclic loading. Simple micro-lattices (e.g., honeycombs) of poly(ethylene glycol) also display high strength at low structural densities. By combining a series of control experiments, computational simulations and in situ characterization, we find that the key to achieving such mechanical performance lies in the fabrication of a highly homogeneous structure with suppressed defect formation. Our discovery unveils a generalizable approach for achieving a performance leap in polymeric materials and provides a complementary approach to enhance the mechanical performance of low-density latticed structures.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59742-x |
| spellingShingle | Letian Zheng Heyi Liang Jin Tang Qiang Zheng Fang Chen Lian Wang Qi Li Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance Nature Communications |
| title | Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance |
| title_full | Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance |
| title_fullStr | Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance |
| title_short | Micrometer-scale poly(ethylene glycol) with enhanced mechanical performance |
| title_sort | micrometer scale poly ethylene glycol with enhanced mechanical performance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59742-x |
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