Effect of Nonlinear Elasticity on the Swelling Behaviors of Highly Swollen Polyelectrolyte Gels.

Polyelectrolyte gels exhibit swelling behaviors that are dependent on the external environment. The swelling behaviors of highly charged polyelectrolyte gels can be well explained using the Flory-Rehner model combined with the Gibbs-Donnan effect and Manning's counterion condensation effect (the FRGDM model). This study investigated the swelling properties of a series of model polyelectrolyte gels, namely tetra-polyacrylic acid-polyethylene glycol gels (Tetra-PAA-PEG gels), and determined the applicability of the FRGDM model.

Small-angle scattering study of tetra-poly(acrylic acid) gels.

Tetra-poly(acrylic acid) (tetra-PAA) gels were fabricated by cross-end coupling of azide (-N) and alkyne (-C≡CH) terminated tetra-arm poly(-butyl acrylate)s. The structures of the tetra-PAA gels and their sols (tetra-PAA sols, i.e.