Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 54: Poster Session 3

CPP 54.62: Poster

Thursday, April 3, 2014, 15:00–19:00, P2

Hydration and molecular interactions in PNIPAM films probed with FTIR spectroscopy — •Alfons Schulte^1,2, Martine Philipp¹, Christoph Schaffer¹, and Peter Müller-Buschbaum¹ — ¹TU München, Physik-Department, LS Funktionelle Materialien, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching — ²Physics Department and College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-2385, USA

The properties of bound water are of considerable interest for hydrogels and their LCST-type demixing transition. Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) is among the thermoresponsive polymers well studied in solution. In the present investigation we study molecular changes in PNIPAM films as a function of hydration employing FTIR spectroscopy. PNIPAM films with thickness over the range from 50 to 200 nm are prepared by spin coating on silicon substrates. The infrared spectrum in the CH, OH, and amide band regions provides details on the changes in conformation and hydrogen bonding. These are investigated during a heating-cooling cycle and the time evolution of water storage in the hydrogel films.