AI Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how heating causes structural changes in micelles made of a specific type of polymer, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide), using neutron scattering techniques.
- Researchers observed a rapid collapse and complex aggregation of the micelles as the temperature increased, indicating dynamic structural shifts.
- These results suggest important considerations for developing and using thermoresponsive self-assembled polymer systems in various applications.
Article Abstract
Structural changes at the intra- as well as intermicellar level were induced by the LCST-type collapse transition of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) in ABA triblock copolymer micelles in water. The distinct process kinetics was followed in situ and in real-time using time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), while a micellar solution of a triblock copolymer, consisting of two short deuterated polystyrene endblocks and a long thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) middle block, was heated rapidly above its cloud point. A very fast collapse together with a multistep aggregation behavior is observed. The findings of the transition occurring at several size and time levels may have implications for the design and application of such thermoresponsive self-assembled systems.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/marc.201100631 | DOI Listing |
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