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Stimuli‐ R esponsive Properties of Nanocomposite Gels Comprising (2‐methoxyethylacrylate‐co‐ N , N ‐dimethylacrylamide) Copolymer‐ C lay Networks
Author(s) -
Haraguchi Kazutoshi,
Murata Kazutaka,
Takehisa Toru
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.201300026
Subject(s) - copolymer , monomer , swelling , nanocomposite , materials science , polymerization , polymer chemistry , aqueous solution , chemical engineering , morphology (biology) , radical polymerization , polymer , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , composite material , biology , engineering , genetics
Summary Stimuli‐responsive properties of nanocomposite gels (MD–NC gels) consisting of (2‐methoxyethylacrylate‐co‐ N , N ‐dimethylacrylamide) copolymer and inorganic clay were investigated. The MD x –NC n gels were synthesized with different ratios of monomer ( x ) and clay content ( n ) by in situ free‐radical polymerization of two monomers in the presence of exfoliated clay in aqueous media. The resulting MD x –NC n gels were always uniform, but the network structure (or clay morphology) and the mechanical and swelling properties were largely dependent on the ratio of x and n . Also, well‐defined stimuli‐responsive properties such as changes in transparency and gel volume by altering the temperature and salt concentration were observed in the MD x –NC n gels, particularly with intermediate x (e.g., 10–50) and relatively small n (e.g., 2–5). Further, the reversible change in the gel size and the stress generation therefrom were observed in repeated runs. In addition, thermo‐responsive release of drugs (or chemicals) from MD x –NC n gels was observed.