Abstract:　Chitosan/poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic　acid)　double　network　hydrogels　based　on　non-covalent　bond　and　winding　between　molecular　chains　were　synthesized　by　copolymerization　reaction　in　the　presence　of　Fe3+.　The　formation　mechanism　of　chitosan/poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic　acid)　double　network　hydrogels　was　analyzed　using　UV–Vis　spectra　and　FTIR,　revealing　that　Fe3+　could　form　the　electrostatic　interaction　with　–COO–　group　in　poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic　acid)　chains,　and　the　–COOH　form　also　the　hydrogen　bond　also　with　–CONH2　in　poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic　acid)　chains　or　–NH2　in　chitosan　chains.　Mechanical　properties　of　the　prepared　double　network　hydrogels　were　investigated　by　rheological　and　mechanical　measurements.　These　results　indicated　that　the　chitosan/poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic　acid)　double　network　hydrogels　present　good　recovery　ability.　The　tensile　strength　and　elongation　at　break　of　the　synthesized　hydrogel　could　reach　141.9　kPa　and　18.2　mm/mm,　respectively,　their　compressive　strength　could　reach　1.76　MPa　at　strain　of　85%.　In　addition,　the　synthesized　hydrogels　can　maintain　good　self-healing　capacity　owing　to　the　dynamically　reversible　bonds　(ionic　bond　and　hydrogel　bonding).　This　work　provides　a　facile　method　for　the　synthesis　of　hydrogels　with　toughness　and　self-healing　capacity.　The　synthesized　chitosan/poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic　acid)　double　network　hydrogels　would　have　a　great　potential　applications　in　a　diverse　range.　©　2020,　Pleiades　Publishing,　Ltd.