Dresden 2020 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 7: Hydrogels and Microgels

CPP 7.2: Talk

Monday, March 16, 2020, 12:45–13:00, ZEU 255

Foams stabilized by PNIPAM microgels — •Matthias Kühnhammer, Christian Appel, and Regine von Klitzing — Technical University of Darmstadt, Department of Physics, Soft Matter at Interfaces, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany

Cross-linked, short-chained poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) polymers have been in the focus of numerous studies in the past years and are still being discussed very actively in the context of multiple possible applications, because of their ability to respond to external stimuli. Because of their amphiphilic character, PNIPAM microgels can be used to stabilize dispersions like emulsions or foams.

In this contribution microgel stabilized foams are investigated. These foams are very stable at temperatures below the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of NIPAM and can be destabilized by increasing the temperature above the VPTT. The structure of the microgels inside the foam lamellae is investigated with neutron scattering. These results are compared to the organization of microgels at a single gas / water interface, which is studied with Langmuir isotherms and X-ray reflectivity.

Finally, these findings are related to macroscopic properties of the foams, namely foamability and foam stability.