A Tough Hydrogel Adhesive for the Repair of Archeological Pottery

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking hydrogel adhesive that can repair archaeological pottery with remarkable speed and durability. This innovative material achieves robust adhesion (∼700 J m⁻²) within seconds, even under wet conditions—a significant advancement over traditional acrylic resins and cyanoacrylate adhesives, which require hours to cure and cannot adhere in moist environments. The hydrogel's toughness stems from its porous interface structure, while its wet adhesion is attributed to a hydrophilic precursor and free radical polymerization. Additionally, the adhesive demonstrates exceptional aging resistance, ensuring stable preservation for nearly 400 years. Field-tested on artifacts from Yin Xu (Anyang, ∼1300 BC) and Xia Jiao Shan (Neolithic, ∼4000 BC), this technology holds promise for broader applications beyond archaeology.

Guo, M., Li, G., Cai, M., Hou, X., Huang, K., Tang, J., & Guo, C. F. (2023). A Tough Hydrogel Adhesive for the Repair of Archeological Pottery. Nano Letters, 23(4), 1371–1378. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04642