Fig. 1.
Simulating the gelation conditions as a function of competitor strength. (A) A classic A2 + B3 (A, i) cross-linked network is broken up when (A, iii) excess B is present. The presence of a competitor C does not help increase connectivity when (A, ii) mixed species form, as the effective functionality of B is decreased. The competitor acts to (A, iv) expand the gelation conditions when the species are forced to partition, as a single cross-linker molecule reacts only with either the polymer or the competitor. As a function of competitor B–C strength, (B) the competitor acts to decrease the conditions that result in gel formation when mixed species form, but increases gelation conditions when the species are partitioned. The gelation conditions can be increased as a function of partitioned hydroxide competitor strength for (C) a metal-coordinated hydrogel. The magnitude and duration of the increase in gelation conditions depend on the stoichiometry of the competitor M(OH)1–3. The lines represent the median simulation result and the shaded region contains 80% of the simulation data.