Mechanical Behaviors of Mechanochemical Materials : Part 2, Mechanical Outputs in an Equilibrium State

Mechanical properties of mechanochemical materials have been scarcely investigated. This paper deals with the theoretical and experimental studies on the mechanical behaviors of mechanochemical materials in an equilibrium state. That is, the degree of swelling under external forces and the works developed during the swelling of mechanochemical materials in forms of a particle, a film and particles in a rigid cylinder are treated from the engineering point of view. The expressions of the mechanical works are derived. Several other mechanical characteristics such as the degree of swelling, the restriction of energy conversion due to an external force, the work efficiency and the swelling pressure are also quantitatively explained. Comparison of the present materials with the muscle is made.