Quantitative determination of the spring entropy effect and its indication of the conformational change of polymer coils with varying concentration in aqueous poly(N-isopropylamide) solutions†
Li Song,Jiaxiang Lin,Panpan Liu,Jingqing Li,Shichun Jiang,Dinghai Huang
RSC Advances Pub Date : 02/14/2019 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/C9RA00117D
Abstract

The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase separation behaviors of thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) aqueous solutions were investigated by power-compensation differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The entropic effect and hence the change of swelling state of PNIPAM polymer coils in homogeneous concentrated aqueous solutions with varied solution composition was elucidated by the isothermal enthalpy demixing recovery behaviors in distinct concentration regions.

Graphical abstract: Quantitative determination of the spring entropy effect and its indication of the conformational change of polymer coils with varying concentration in aqueous poly(N-isopropylamide) solutions