Gel is a soft and wet jelly-like material. Gel containing water is known for its low friction coefficient. Double network gel combined 2 kinds of gel with different properties has the world highest strength. However it will not be broken even if it is run over by car when it contains over 90% water.

The research of the fusion for the network is a way to gain knowledge from the material that the researchers are interested in when use them to a real machine. A group of Prof Hidemitsu FURUKAWA, a specialist of gel in the fusion research field, is manufacturing DN gel and supplying samples to the related research group, then making an evaluation from various aspects. "A lot of problems will be visible from the evaluations when the gel is applied to the machine." Prof Furukawa said.

NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN      July, 21, 2016      Thursday