Transparent Hydrogel Hardens When Heated

Dec-06-19 A transparent hydrogel that hardens when heated could be used to create protective clothing or insulating windows.

Developed by a team from Hokkaido University, the polymer-based hydrogel is unique in that rather than melting under heat, it will harden by up to 1800 times. Inspired by the organisms that thrive in extremely hot environments, the non-toxic gel is made up of polyacrylic acid that has been treated with a calcium acetate solution. The result is a material that is soft and transparent at room temperature, but will become hard and opaque when heated to 140° F.

According to researcher Takayuki Nonoyama, “Clothing made from similar fabric could be used to protect people during traffic or sports-related accidents, for example. Our material could also be used as a heat-absorbent window coating to keep indoor environments cooler.”

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