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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.01.16.633355

Tunable porosity in a hydrogel with extreme vibration damping properties

Day, G. J.·Zhang, Q.·Remillat, C. D. L.·Comandini, G.·Perriman, A. W.·Scarpa, F.
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Abstract

We have developed hydrogel systems with tunable porosity through dialysis casting by varying alginate and poloxamer compositions from 0% to 10%. These gels feature diverse porosity topologies, yielding loss factors between 16% and 29% in the 50 Hz to 300 Hz frequency range. The dynamic modulus shows a remarkable increase of over an order of magnitude, reaching approximately 3 MPa compared to the static modulus. Vibration transmissibility tests and dynamic mechanical analysis reveal that the poroelastic and pneumatic-like effects from the tunable porous structures contribute significantly to this damping effect. Furthermore, these hydrogels are biosourced and biodegradable, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-based damping materials.

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Day, G. J., Zhang, Q., Remillat, C. D. L., Comandini, G., Perriman, A. W., Scarpa, F.. 2025-01-20. Tunable porosity in a hydrogel with extreme vibration damping properties. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.16.633355

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