The purpose of this work is to study debonding of polyvinylpyrrolidone hydrogels from aluminum surfaces under the effect of electric field. Adhesion strength of physical hydrogels to metals is relatively high. The normal load of 50 kPa is necessary to disconnect a sample of two aluminum surfaces joined by a 0.3-mm layer of a polyvinylpyrrolidone hydrogel. Application of electric field reduces the disconnecting load by at least ten times. Currents are observed due to ionization of water. Gaseous hydrogen is produced on the cathode interface. Power dissipation is observed in the sample.This work was supported by funding received through Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Electrically debonding hydrogels of polyvinylpyrrolidone

245th National Meeting (2013)

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