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

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Hellweg
• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 258774625

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.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Participating Person: Dr. Julian Oberdisse