BARC/PUB/10//0932

 
 

A Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study of Poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide) In Water

 
     
 
Author(s)

Lawrence, M. B.; Desa, J. A. E.; Aswal, V. K.; Badiger, M. V.

ABSTRACT

The linear polymer Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) in aqueous solution has been examined by Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) as a function of concentration and temperature in the wave vector range 0.017 to 0.35 Å-1. The intensity of scattering showed about five-fold decrease as the temperature increased from 30 to 50 OC accompanied by phase separation. When mixed with a 1% Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) surfactant, the SANS data showed evidence for the polymer being included within the surfactant micellar aggregates whose mean separation was about 100 Å. It is possible that inclusion in the surfactant micelle occurs preferentially over the phase separation in PNIPAM. Thermo-reversibility of the mixed solution of PNIPAM and SDS was also observed.

 
 
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