Sustainable Cement-Free Soil Stabilization via a Mussel Mimicry, Water-Resistant Hydrogel

Employing hydrogels as a substitute for cement in soil stabilization is believed to have great environmental benefits. However, current hydrogel soil stabilizers cannot function properly in wet conditions due to swelling-induced structural deformation and mechanical weakening, which significantly limits their applications. To overcome current technical limitations and achieve sustainable cement-free soil stabilization, we developed a water-resistant hydrogel soil stabilizer that worked under both dry and wet conditions inspired by the mussel byssal. Carefully formulated precursors containing methacrylic acid and acrylamide were poured into soils and cured via in-site polymerization. The synergic effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions led to the formation of heterogeneous mussel mimicry microstructures that possessed superior toughness (up to 2.1 MJ/m3) and ultra-low swelling ratios. Soils strengthened with such hydrogels maintained great strength (up to 2.9 MPa) in both air and water, which had never been achieved before. The intrinsic water affinity of hydrogels also ensured a decent permeability and retention ability of water, which was critical to the ecosystems. In conclusion, a tough, water-resistant, and multi-functional mussel mimicry hydrogel has been devised. It holds great promise as the next-generation cement-free, ecofriendly, and sustainable soil stabilizers.