Research Initiation: Volume Change Kinetics in Near-Critical Gels

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Abrupt volume change near a critical point is a unique property of polymer gels on which many commercial products are being developed. This project undertakes a comprehensive study of volume change kinetics in gels near the critical point. A range of supercritical and subcritical gels will be created by copolymerizing isopropylacrylamide with diethylacrylamide or acrylic acid. The kinetics of volume changes will be determined by measuring the change in mass by weighing and the change in dimension with a videomicroscope system. The objectives are to tie the broad range of kinetic phenomena together: continous and discontinous volume changes; swelling and shrinking; volume changes induced by variations in pH, solvent, ionic strength, and temperature; and the effect of changes in gel structure. The results will provide data needed for application-oriented research, clarify the relative rates of these changes, and guide development of an appropriate mathematical model.