{"id":4719,"date":"2023-10-31T16:44:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T07:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.phys.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp\/en\/?p=4719"},"modified":"2023-12-27T17:09:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-27T08:09:52","slug":"percolation-induced-gel-gel-phase-separation-in-a-dilute-polymer-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.phys.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp\/en\/news\/4719\/","title":{"rendered":"Percolation-induced gel\u2013gel phase separation in a dilute polymer network"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cosmic large-scale structures, animal flocks and living tissues can be considered non-equilibrium organized systems created by dissipative processes. Replicating such properties in artificial systems is still difficult. Herein we report a dissipative network formation process in a dilute polymer\u2013water mixture that leads to percolation-induced gel\u2013gel phase separation. The dilute system, which forms a monophase structure at the percolation threshold, spontaneously separates into two co-continuous gel phases with a submillimetre scale (a dilute-percolated gel) during the deswelling process after the completion of the gelation reaction. The dilute-percolated gel, which contains 99% water, exhibits unexpected hydrophobicity and induces the development of adipose-like tissues in subcutaneous tissues. These findings support the development of dissipative structures with advanced functionalities for distinct applications, ranging from physical chemistry to tissue engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See below for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n