Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 14: Elastomers and Gels

CPP 14.9: Talk

Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 12:45–13:00, ZEU 114

Elasticity of Core-Shell Microgel particles determined by AFM Technique depending on the Temperature — •Marcel Richter and Regine von Klitzing — Technische Universität Berlin

During the last decades microgels made of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) have attracted much interest and were studied by several techniques like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) [1]. These polymer particles show thermoresponsive behaviour and can therefore be classified as smart materials.

In special the mechanical properties these microgels are of great interest. Here, AFM is a suitable method for the determination of the Young`s modulus [2]. We synthesised core-shell particles and investigate the change in stiffness according to the cross linker and co-monomer amount. Due to the thermoresponsive behaviour of our particles the elasticity was determined in a temperature range for 20°C to 65 °C. These microgel particles are synthesized by emulsion polymerization without using any surfactants at temperature about 70°C [3]. The size of microgels is determined by Dynamic Light Scattering and Atomic Force Microscopy.

[1] K. Kratz, T. Hellweg, W. Eimer, Polymer (2001), 42, 6531 [2] E. K. Dimitriadis et al, Biophysical Journal, (2002), 82, 2798 [3] R. Pelton, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. (2000), 85, 1