Nagoya researchers developed a spontaneous polymer network synthesis that allowed for the preparation of gels containing narrow molecular weight distribution polymers. The gel networks showed swelling properties that were responsive to temperature and solvent concentration. The reported process demonstrates the potential for facile preparation of high quality materials that exhibit the full range of polymer gel properties, including sustained release, stimuli responsiveness, and molecular sieving, amongst others.
Polymer gel materials have been widely applied in medicine, civil engineering, architecture and space exploration. Their appeal lies in the potential for preparing functional materials with consistent properties, via simple and easily reproducible methods. However, the compromise between method simplicity and optimized material performance means that not all gel materials fulfill their potential. Now a group of researchers at Nagoya University has established a process that combines the ease of a spontaneous process with the high molecular weight control required for producing high-performance materials. Their findings were published in NPG Asia Materials.
Copyright © by EnPress Publisher. All rights reserved.
