Summary
This Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) award will support research that advances predictive design of polymer materials by uncovering how molecular entanglements govern mechanical performance. Polymer entanglements form naturally in long-chain materials and are known to significantly enhance stiffness, strength, and toughness. Recent studies have demonstrated that replacing chemical crosslinks with entanglements in certain hydrogels can increase toughness by several orders of magnitude, highlighting their potential to improve materials used in applications ranging from industri
