3D simulation of self-growing polymer gels

We utilize the gel lattice-spring approach to develop the 3D computational model of self-growing polymer gels. When placed in a monomer solution, these gels exhibit sustained growth by imbibing monomeric units from the surrounding solution into their network. We model the two types of self-growing polymer gels, one comprising of an interpenetrating network (IPN) between primary and secondary polymer chains, and the other one consisting of a random copolymer network (RCN), with the copolymers formed by inter-chain exchange between the primary chains and the polymer chains resulting from polymerization of the secondary units. The mathematical model takes into account the effects of gel elasticity and kinetics parameters of the step-growth polymerization. We tune the mechanical properties of these gels by patterning when different gel areas undergo different gel growth kinetics. These gels can be used as building blocks for materials having tunable properties such as controllable gradient, actuators, and shape-morphing materials.