Issue 35, 2017

Swelling of micro-hydrogels with a crosslinker gradient

Abstract

A heterogeneous distribution of crosslinker in micro-hydrogels (microgels) results in a non-uniform polymer density inside the particles. Identifying the morphology of the hydrogel backbone enables a bottom-up approach towards the structural and rheological properties of microgel systems. On a local level we use a Flory–Rehner inspired model that focuses on highly swollen networks, characterized by a Poisson's ratio of 1/4. Our ab initio calculations take account for the nonuniform distribution of crosslinker species during the synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels, yet the method is also applicable to other microgel architectures. We recover a single-particle density profile that is in close agreement with SAXS data. Comparison with experimental data confirms that the surface of the cross-linked particle is decorated with dangling polymers ends of considerable size.

Graphical abstract: Swelling of micro-hydrogels with a crosslinker gradient

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Apr 2017
Accepted
06 Jun 2017
First published
06 Jun 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017,19, 23740-23746

Swelling of micro-hydrogels with a crosslinker gradient

N. Boon and P. Schurtenberger, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 23740 DOI: 10.1039/C7CP02434G

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