Crystal structure of highly concentrated, ionic microgel suspensions studied by small-angle x-ray scattering.
We present a small-angle x-ray scattering study of the crystal structure formed by pH -sensitive poly(2-vinylpyridine) microgel particles with 5 wt % of cross-linker. We focus on highly swollen particles and explore concentrations ranging from below close packing to well above close packing, where the particles are forced to shrink and/or interpenetrate. The crystal structure found from poly- as well as monocrystalline domains is random hexagonally close packed, as also observed in hard spheres.
Gasser
U
U
Laboratory for Neutron Scattering, ETH Zurich and Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland. urs.gasser@psi.ch
Fernandez-Nieves
A
A
D000465:Algorithms; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005782:Gels; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011312:Pressure; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014965:X-Rays
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005782:Gels; D011108:Polymers