Novel turbidimetric method to study polymer swelling

作者：Lavine Barry K^*; Oxenford Leah; Kim Mariya; Kaval Necati; Benjamin Marcus; Seitz W R

来源：Microchemical Journal, 2012, 103: 97-104.

DOI：10.1016/j.microc.2012.01.010

• Polymer swelling
• Turbidimetry
• pH sensitive hydrogels
• N-isopropylacrylamide polymer particles

The swelling behavior of pH sensitive polymer particles has been investigated by embedding the particles in a polyvinylalcohol (PVA) hydrogel membrane. Changes of one-half of an absorbance unit ill the turbidity of the hydrogel membrane were observed as a result of the swelling and shrinking of the polymer particle in response to changes in the pH of the solution in contact with the membrane. The PVA membrane responded to multiple swelling and shrinking cycles without loss of functionality. This approach to studying polymer swelling is not subject to the mechanical problems of delamination and/or cracking associated with polymers immobilized on surfaces as the polymer particles embedded in the hydrogel membrane are free to swell in all directions. The membrane not only serves as a flexible medium to contain the polymer particles but also acts as a filter to protect the swellable polymer from sample components such as suspended particles that are too large to diffuse through the membrane. Because membrane turbidity can be measured at any wavelength. inexpensive instrumentation can be used to study polymer swelling.

• 出版日期2012-7