Regensburg 2025 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 6: Gels, Polymers Networks and Elastomers II

CPP 6.3: Talk

Monday, March 17, 2025, 15:30–15:45, H34

Correlation between swelling ability, softness and adhesion of PNIPAM microgels — •Carina Schneider, Kevin Hagmann, Joanne Zimmer, Franziska Braun, and Regine von Klitzing — Departement of Physics, TU Darmstadt, Hochschulstraße 8, 64289, Darmstadt

PNIPAM microgels (poly-N-isopropylacrylamide) are polymeric cross-linked networks with a core-shell structure. Due to their volume phase transition, it is possible to control their swelling and mechanical behavior. However, the concept of softness in these microgels, is highly complex and is not a single, well-defined property. In this study we show that it rather has a multifold characteristic that arises from a combination of several factors, such as their (de-)swelling ability, mechanical properties and adsorption behavior at interfaces. The cross-linker density of the microgels affect their adsorption behavior at interfaces and faceting. For exploring the multifold softness of adsorbed PNIPAM microgels, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to directly probe the mechanical and adhesion properties through indentation measurements and related them to their swelling ability. These insights into the microgel behavior could inform the design of next-generation microgels for biomedical applications.

Keywords: Microgels; Nanomechnaics; Softness; Adhesion; Faceting