Structures of microgel/silica aggregate particles

CHED 691

L. Andrew Lyon, ll62@mail.gatech.edu1, Ashlee N St. John, ashlee.stjohn@chemistry.gatech.edu1, and Colef Talbert, ctalber1@gsumail.gram.edu2. (1) School of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400, (2) Department of Chemistry, Grambling State University, 403 Main St. 4218 GSU Box, Grambling, LA 71245
This research is based on using the behavior of colloidal microgel crystals to create new variations of colloids. This project focused on making multi-particle aggregates using polymer microgel particles and silica beads. Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) is the polymer being used, pNIPAm at 31„aC, Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST), is highly soluble in water, which makes it mechanically soft. The silica beads will be functionalized with a photo cross-linker, Benzophenone. An amount of the silica will be assembled with the microgel and be put under a U.V. light source to cross-link the beads to the microgels. Since the behavior has been accounted for and the thermal tunability enables us to work with in different phases, we will be able to control the phase of the sample at cross-linking. Presumably, we should be able to control the shape of aggregates formed with bead concentration and the set assemblies at cross-linking.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008