Examples of chemo-mechanical couplings are presented briefly. First, the notion of a semi-impermeable membrane is introduced together with the concept of osmosis. Chemical contraction and swelling are illustrated in chemically sensitive clays and articular cartilages. The heart muscle provides a prominent instance of electro-chemo-mechanical coupling. Reverse couplings play an important role in the engineering of soft tissues. Microstructural aspects of the chemically sensitive materials highlight the ubiquitous electric charges that promote the couplings.
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