Dynamics-based assessment of nanoscopic polymer-network mesh structures and their defects

Abstract

<p>Multiple-quantum NMR and probe diffusion are dynamical methods that can quantify polymer-network structural irregularities and defects on the network-mesh scale.</p>

Autoren

Kay Saalwächter
Sebastian Seiffert

DOI

10.1039/c7sm02444d

eISSN

1744-6848

ISSN

1744-683X

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

11

Zeitschrift

Soft Matter

Sprache

en

Online publication date

2018

Paginierung

1976 - 1991

Status

Published online

Herausgeber

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Herausgeber URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c7sm02444d

Datum der Datenerfassung

2024

Titel

Dynamics-based assessment of nanoscopic polymer-network mesh structures and their defects

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

14

Datenquelle: Crossref

Abstract

Polymer-network gels often exhibit complex nanoscopic architectures. First, the polymer-network mesh topology on scales of 1-10 nm is usually not uniform and regular, but disordered and irregular. Second, on top of that, many swollen polymer networks display spatial inhomogeneity of their polymer segmental density and crosslinking density on scales of 10-100 nm. This multi-scale structural complexity affects the permeability, mechanical strength, and optical clarity of the polymer gels, which is of central relevance for their performance in popular applications. As a result, there is a need to characterize the polymer network structures on multiple scales. On the scale of the spatial inhomogeneity of crosslinking, 10-100 nm, scattering of neutrons, X-rays, and light has extraordinary utility and is well established. On the scale of the mesh topology, 1-10 nm, in contrast, experimental techniques are less established. This review intends to close this gap by reviewing two intrinsically dynamic methods that yield information on polymer network mesh structures. First, NMR-based assessment of residual dipolar proton-spin couplings, which arise upon the introduction of crosslinks into a liquidlike polymer system to impart partial solidlike characteristics, is suitable to quantitatively assess network meshes and local network defects. Second, diffusive penetration of molecular, macromolecular, and mesoscopic colloidal probes through a polymer gel provides insight into its obstructing network mesh structure and its potential irregularity. Either method is highly synergistic to scattering-based assessment of the network structures on larger scales, and in concert, a rich picture on the nano- and mesoscopic gel topology is obtained.

Addresses

Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Physics - NMR Group, Betty-Heimann-Str. 7, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany. kay.saalwaechter@physik.uni-halle.de.

Autoren

Kay Saalwächter
Sebastian Seiffert

DOI

10.1039/c7sm02444d

eISSN

1744-6848

Externe Identifier

PubMed Identifier: 29504001

Open access

false

ISSN

1744-683X

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

11

Zeitschrift

Soft matter

Sprache

eng

Medium

Print

Paginierung

1976 - 1991

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2018

Status

Published

Datum der Datenerfassung

2018

Titel

Dynamics-based assessment of nanoscopic polymer-network mesh structures and their defects.

Sub types

Review
Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

14

Datenquelle: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract

Polymer-network gels often exhibit complex nanoscopic architectures. First, the polymer-network mesh topology on scales of 1-10 nm is usually not uniform and regular, but disordered and irregular. Second, on top of that, many swollen polymer networks display spatial inhomogeneity of their polymer segmental density and crosslinking density on scales of 10-100 nm. This multi-scale structural complexity affects the permeability, mechanical strength, and optical clarity of the polymer gels, which is of central relevance for their performance in popular applications. As a result, there is a need to characterize the polymer network structures on multiple scales. On the scale of the spatial inhomogeneity of crosslinking, 10-100 nm, scattering of neutrons, X-rays, and light has extraordinary utility and is well established. On the scale of the mesh topology, 1-10 nm, in contrast, experimental techniques are less established. This review intends to close this gap by reviewing two intrinsically dynamic methods that yield information on polymer network mesh structures. First, NMR-based assessment of residual dipolar proton-spin couplings, which arise upon the introduction of crosslinks into a liquidlike polymer system to impart partial solidlike characteristics, is suitable to quantitatively assess network meshes and local network defects. Second, diffusive penetration of molecular, macromolecular, and mesoscopic colloidal probes through a polymer gel provides insight into its obstructing network mesh structure and its potential irregularity. Either method is highly synergistic to scattering-based assessment of the network structures on larger scales, and in concert, a rich picture on the nano- and mesoscopic gel topology is obtained.

Autoren

Kay Saalwächter
Sebastian Seiffert

Autoren-URL

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29504001

DOI

10.1039/c7sm02444d

eISSN

1744-6848

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

11

Zeitschrift

Soft Matter

Sprache

eng

Country

England

Paginierung

1976 - 1991

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2018

Status

Published

Datum, an dem der Datensatz öffentlich gemacht wurde

2018

Titel

Dynamics-based assessment of nanoscopic polymer-network mesh structures and their defects.

Sub types

Journal Article
Review

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

14

Datenquelle: PubMed

Dynamics-based assessment of nanoscopic polymer-network mesh structures and their defects

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