Bulk modulus of poly($N$-isopropylacrylamide) microgels through the swelling transition

Bulk modulus of poly( $N$ -isopropylacrylamide) microgels through the swelling transition

B. Sierra-Martín, Y. Laporte, A. B. South, L. A. Lyon, and A. Fernández-Nieves

Phys. Rev. E 84, 011406 – Published 28 July 2011

Abstract

We report measurements of the bulk modulus of individual poly( $N$ -isopropylacrylamide) microgels along their swelling transition. The modulus is determined by measuring the volume deformation of the microgel as a function of osmotic pressure using dextran solutions. We find that the modulus softens through the transition, displaying a nonmonotonous behavior with temperature. This feature is correctly reproduced by the theory of Flory for polymer gels, once the concentration dependence of the solvency parameter is properly incorporated.

Received 19 May 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.011406

Authors & Affiliations

B. Sierra-Martín¹, Y. Laporte¹, A. B. South², L. A. Lyon², and A. Fernández-Nieves¹

¹School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0430, USA
²School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0430, USA

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Vol. 84, Iss. 1 — July 2011

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Physical Review E

covering statistical, nonlinear, biological, and soft matter physics