Formation And Growth Of Mesoglobules In Aqueous Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Solutions Revealed With Kinetic Small-Angle Neutron Scattering And Fast Pressure Jumps

Abstract

The phase transition from swollen chains to polymer mesoglobules of an aqueous solution of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) is investigated with kinetic small-angle neutron scattering with 50 ms time resolution in conjunction with millisecond pressure jumps across the coexistence line. The time-resolved study evidenced three distinct regimes: fractal clusters form during the first second and transform into compact mesoglobules. During the following ∼20 s, these grow by diffusion-limited coalescence. The final step consists of a slow growth characterized by an energy barrier of several kBT. The method opens opportunities for kinetic structural studies of multicomponent systems over wide length and time scales and gives a structural picture spanning from the chain collapse to mesoscopic phase separation.

Publication Date

10-16-2018

Publication Title

ACS Macro Letters

Volume

7

Issue

10

Number of Pages

1155-1160

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00605

Socpus ID

85053670331 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85053670331

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