Nanoporous Substrate-Infiltrated Hydrogels: a Bioinspired Regenerable Surface for High Load Bearing and Tunable Friction

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 25; no. 47; pp. 7366 - 7374
• Main Authors: Ma, Shuanhong, Scaraggi, M., Wang, Daoai, Wang, Xiaolong, Liang, Yongmin, Liu, Weimin, Dini, Daniele, Zhou, Feng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 16.12.2015
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Contact pressure; Friction; gel-fiber arrays; Hydrogels; Lubrication; nanoporous; Nanostructure; regenerable; Regenerative; tunable friction/lubrication; Wear resistance

Nature has successfully combined soft matter and hydration lubrication to achieve ultralow friction even at relatively high contact pressure (e.g., articular cartilage). Inspired by this, hydrogels are used to mimic natural aqueous lubricating systems. However, hydrogels usually cannot bear high loa...