Non-NIPAM based core-shell microgels with enhanced corset effect: Understanding and tuning of the volume phase transition

本研究的目的是合成具有核-壳结构的非异丙基丙烯酰胺基智能微凝胶，并建立这种粒子的结构-性能关系。该粒子将由N-异丙基甲基丙烯酰胺（NIPMAM）和N-正丙基丙烯酰胺（NNPAM）合成，由于两种单体的体积相变温度的巨大差异，导致了意想不到的新性能。在初步工作中，发现这种颗粒在溶胀曲线中表现出大的线性域。这种影响仍有待充分利用和理解，这是本项目的主要目标。可以推测，壳中交联剂含量的变化将产生不同的溶胀曲线，从而在溶胀过程中产生不同的中间形态。我们将使用小角散射技术（主要是中子）研究这些系统，以了解与局部尺度上这些系统的膨胀相关的结构变化。出于数据分析的目的，将进行包括直接或反向蒙特-卡罗模拟在内的广泛建模。此外，线性溶胀的域将通过AFM技术来研究这些颗粒可以产生的力。

The project at hand aims at the synthesis of non-N-isopropylacrylamide based smart microgels with core-shell architecture and at establishing structure property relationships for this kind of particles. The particles will be synthesized from N-isopropylmethacrylamide (NIPMAM) and N-n-propylacrylamide (NNPAM), which leads to unexpected new properties due to the large difference of the volume phase transition temperature of the two monomers. In preliminary work such particles were found to exhibit a large linear domain in the swelling curve. This effect still remains to be fully exploited and understood which is the major objective of the present project. It can be presumed that changes of the crosslinker content of the shell will produce different swelling curves and thus different intermediate morphologies during swelling. We will study these systems using small angle scattering techniques (mainly with neutrons) to understand the structural changes related to the swelling of these systems on a local scale. For the purpose of data analysis extensive modeling including direct or reverse Monte-Carlo simulations will be performed. Moreover, the domain of linear swelling will be studied by means of AFM techniques to study the force which can be produced by these particles.