Closed-loop sol-gel transition of PEG-PEC aqueous solution.
We are reporting an unusual closed-loop phase behavior of poly(ethylene glycol)-beta-poly(ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate) (PEG-PEC) aqueous solutions. As the temperature increased from 0 to 60 degrees C, the aqueous polymer solution (12 wt %) underwent sol-to-gel and gel-to-syneresis transitions. However, the polymer aqueous solution persisted as a sol phase below 4.0 wt % as well as above 16 wt % in the same temperature range, thus forming a closed-loop gel domain in the phase diagram. The closed-loop gel domain is suggested to be a result of the balance between the aggregation and the stabilization of micelles in specific temperature and concentration ranges.
Choi
Bo Gyu
BG
Department of Chemistry, Division of Nano Sciences, Ewha Woamns University, 11-1 Daehyun-dong, Seodaemun-ku, Seoul, Korea.
Sohn
Youn Soo
YS
Jeong
Byeongmoon
B