[O1-4]
우수논문발표상 응모자Preserved Elastic Modulus and Enhanced Adhesion in Long-Term and Thermally Stable Glycol Gels via Affine Shrinkage upon Water Evaporation
발표자박소연 (포항공과대학교)
연구책임자김연수 (포항공과대학교)
Abstract
Glycol-based polymer gels have gained attention as stable alternatives to hydrogels due to the ultra-low volatility and thermal stability of glycol solvents. However, achieving strong and durable adhesion in these gels remains challenging because of their low surface energy and limited exposure of adhesive functional groups. In this study, poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) gels were synthesized in water–butylene glycol mixtures, and selective water evaporation was employed to address adhesion limitations by removing the volatile component in a controlled manner. Selective water evaporation enriches hydroxyl-functional groups at the gel surface, resulting in an over 6-fold enhancement in adhesion strength. This strategy preserves the elastic modulus via affine shrinkage without additional polymer chain entanglement. The resulting glycol gels exhibited exceptional stability in mechanical properties and interfacial adhesion over a wide temperature range (–20 °C to 120 °C).