title: Multiphysics modelling of volume phase transition of ionic hydrogels responsive to thermal stimulus.
abstract: This paper presents the analysis of the volume phase transition of ionic thermo-sensitive hydrogels to thermal stimulus through mathematical modelling. The model is termed the multi-effect-coupling thermal-stimulus (MECtherm) model and it considers the effects of multi-phases and multi-physics. Its application to steady-state analysis of the hydrogels in swelling equilibrium is validated against available experimental data for the relation between volume swelling ratio and temperature, in which very good agreement is achieved. The phenomenon of volume phase transition is studied for the thermal-stimulus responsive hydrogel. The numerical studies predict well the influences of initially fixed charge density and initial volume fraction of polymeric network on the swelling equilibrium of the hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of High Performance Computing, National University of Singapore, 1 Science Park Road, number 01-01 The Capricorn, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528. lihua@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaogui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D004573:Electrolytes; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water