Chenghai Li

Solid Mechanics of Soft Materials/Structures. Postdoc@Harvard. PhD@UCSD.

[MWM_Tan @MWM_Tan]

Reducing hysteresis in rubber can translate to real energy savings, but particle reinforcement often increases energy loss. We show that long chains + structured silica break the trend, shifting composite architecture to unlock more efficient elastomers.
https://t.co/uOmxelI8c0

[Chenghai Li @ChenghaiLi3]

Check our recent paper led by @MWM_Tan on reducing hysteresis in particle reinforced rubbers, which can potentially contribute to energy saving in tire rubbers.

[MWM_Tan @MWM_Tan]

Reducing hysteresis in rubber can translate to real energy savings, but particle reinforcement often increases energy loss. We show that long chains + structured silica break the trend, shifting composite architecture to unlock more efficient elastomers.
https://t.co/uOmxelI8c0

[MWM_Tan @MWM_Tan]

Our group website is now live!

We share our latest research directions to design polymer systems that achieve performance, durability, and circularity.

Find out more about our work and opportunities to join us: https://t.co/n3IGPdaail

[Raja Annapooranan @raja_ucsd]

In our new paper, we report dielectric liquid crystal elastomers, that can output large actuation stress and high power density (9100 W/kg). More details in the thread.

@ShengqiangCai @UCSDJacobs

https://t.co/jBaNmhP8Yc

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

A tire, for example, is made of a composite of rubber chains and filler particles, such as carbon black.

The composite consists of two networks: a network of crosslinked rubber chains, and a network of percolated filler particles.

[Chenghai Li @ChenghaiLi3]

Our paper in celebration of Prof. Michael Rubinstein on his 70th birthday is online. Carbon black reinforced natural rubber is everywhere in daily life. Conventional high-intensity mixing processes cut long rubber chains and reduce the mechanical performance. Here, we demonstrate that preserving long rubber chains greatly amplifies toughness while maintaining modulus. Check out the paper for details. Great thanks to all coauthors! @MWM_Tan @XianyangB @GuodongNian @ykutsovsky @zhigangsuo

https://t.co/Nl4MV09Kp1

[MWM_Tan @MWM_Tan]

The MWM Lab at Nanyang Technological University, is recruiting PhD students interested in topology-designed polymers: exploring how polymer structure and network architecture control mechanical performance, durability, and circularity (recyclable & biodegradable systems).

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

Our long review article is online, at Chemical Reviews, titled, Thermodynamic and Molecular Origins of Crack Resistance in Polymer Networks. @ZheqiChen
https://t.co/Q8YqF9lRpY

[Yue(Luna) Zheng @Y_Zheng29]

Excited to share our new paper in EML.
We combined experiments + theory to show how pre-stretching rubber turns circular contacts into ellipses that evolve (even flip) during peel → stiffer, less adhesive response.
https://t.co/qDw4U40zIV

[Vega Shah @dr_alphalyrae]

Everyone working in a STEM field should read this - ‘writing is thinking’
https://t.co/pps0zyCURe

[Chenghai Li @ChenghaiLi3]

Agreed. Writing deepens understanding. Understanding strengthens writing. Ultimately, understanding drives the properties we care about.

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

“Academic material scientists are rewarded for understandings,” said Yakov @ykutsovsky at our online writing session this morning. “Industrial materials scientists are rewarded for properties.”

@ChenghaiLi3 @MWM_Tan @GuodongNian

[Chenghai Li @ChenghaiLi3]

In 2023, we created “living” bioluminescent materials that glow under stress, collaborated with Nico Schramma, @maziyarj, Prof. Michael I. Latz, & @ShengqiangCai: https://t.co/oazMaxrfjT

Thrilled to see that based on our glowing material, biodesigner Chris Bellamy and fashion designer Iris van Herpen further developed a very cool glowing algae dress at Paris Fashion Week! https://t.co/5VOuafHbr2

Amazing to see science and design come together so beautifully.

https://t.co/HFgMQ6sHCT

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

To use energy release rate to study a crack growing in a viscoelastic body, one must ensure that elasticity prevails in a large part of the body, and viscoelasticity is localized in a zone small compared to the body.

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

Latex is an emulsion, of rubber particles dispersed in water.

When a plant is wounded, latex exudes, water evaporates, and rubber particles form a solid, sealing the wound.

The plant defends itself by an emulsion process.

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

A powerful strategy to develop materials for sustainability is to reimagine the existing economically important materials.

In a new paper published in Nature Sustainability, we show that the performance of natural rubber can be greatly enhanced.https://t.co/aqEGr02C5X

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

In water, molecules bind through hydrogen bonds.

The noncovalent bonds are strong enough to enable the molecules to crystallize below zero Celsius, but weak enough to enable the molecules to flow at low viscosity at room temperature.

Please give examples of being noncovalent.

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

Our latest review article titled

Polymers Resist Fatigue Crack Growth by Deconcentrating Stress

PDF: https://t.co/YgsYUJVQDT

@jasongsteck @Christine_h_ahn

[Kejie Zhao @KejieZhao]

Calling on senior PhD students and postdocs to join the 2nd Future Faculty Symposium at the 2025 SES Annual Technical Meeting. Open to everyone. Apply for travel support today! @nanshulu @SocEngScience

[Zhigang Suo @zhigangsuo]

Monomers link into chains, and chains crosslink into a network. Both links and crosslinks are covalent bonds.

Crosslinks are also called junctions.

Strand
Dangling end
Loop
Entanglement (missing)

Strands should touch one another through noncovalent interactions.