Temperature-Dependent Nanomechanical Properties of Adsorbed Poly-NIPAm Microgel Particles Immersed in Water.

ABSTRACT: The temperature dependence of nanomechanical properties of adsorbed poly-NIPAm microgel particles prepared by a semibatch polymerization process was investigated in an aqueous environment via indentation-based atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods. Poly-NIPAm microgel particles prepared by the classical batch process were also characterized for comparison. The local mechanical properties were measured between 26 and 35 °C, i.e., in the temperature range of the volume transition. Two different AFM tips with different shapes and end radii were utilized. The nanomechanical properties measured by the two kinds of tips showed a similar temperature dependence of the nanomechanical properties, but the actual values were found to depend on the size of the tip. The results suggest that the semibatc

SUBMITTER: Li G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7879429 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature