Doctoral Defence of Henri Savolainen

Henri Savolainen defended his doctoral dissertation on Monday 19.1.2026, at Aalto University.

Title of the thesis: Topological effects in polymer networks for adhesion, resilience, and sustainability

Opponent: Professor André Studart, Eidgenössische technische Hochschule Zuerich, Switzerland

Supervisor: Prof. Olli Ikkala, Aalto University School of Science

The summary of the thesis: The thesis treats the topic of functional properties of hydrogels, i.e., aqueous polymeric networks. Therein topological effects of the networks have a strong influence on the mechanical properties such as strength, adhesion, and resilience due to the geometrical interactions and packings between the chains. The benefit of such approach is that the control of chain arrangement is universal to all polymer types. This thesis studies topological effects to cause triggerable adhesion, resilience, and strong hydrogels. As a result, polymer networks can be influenced not only by their chemical compositions but via entanglements and topological rearrangements.

Read more: Public defence in Engineering Physics, M.Sc. Henri Savolainen | Aalto University

The thesis is available at: Topological effects in polymer networks for adhesion, resilience, and sustainability