Abstract
The equilibrium and kinetic aqueous swelling properties of a lightly crosslinked hydrophobic polyelectrolyte gel containing methyl methacrylate (70 mol%) and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (30 mol%) have been measured as a function of pH at 25°C and constant ionic strength. This gel adopts a collapsed hydrophobic state at and above neutral pH, but becomes highly swollen as the pH is lowered. The transition between the collapsed and the swollen states is discrete, occurring with a small reduction in pH at 6.6. Swelling kinetics are also highly pH dependent. Swelling kinetic profiles from the dry state display a characteristic rate acceleration just prior to the attainment of equilibrium. Small molecular tracer kinetic studies have allowed us to eliminate diffusion of water as a possible rate determining factor in the relaxation process.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 204-208 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Polymer communications Guildford |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| State | Published - Jul 1 1988 |