Institute for Technology Research and Innovation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3217, Australia.
J Colloid Interface Sci. 2012 Mar 1;369(1):231-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.11.035. Epub 2011 Nov 28.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is a common thermo-responsive, water-soluble polymer, while Hercosett is a cationic resin commonly employed in the paper industry. In this paper, Hercosett™ and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanoparticles were used to prepare composite films that show thermo-responsive behavior and swelling-shrinking properties in water. First, size-controlled PNIPAM hydrogel nanoparticles were synthesized. These were then embedded within a matrix of the cationic resin Kymene 577H by film casting. The distribution of nanoparticles in the resin film was investigated. The thermo-responsive properties of the as-synthesized PNIPAM hydrogel nanoparticles and of the composite films were characterized together with the repeatability of the swelling-shrinking cycles. The presence of nanoparticles endowed the film with highly enhanced water retention (in comparison with resin-only films) and, most importantly, thermo-responsiveness. A very fast optical and morphological response was in fact observed. Due to the dual (optical and morphological) response, this new system is suitable for applications in optical or morphological actuation and gating.
聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）（PNIPAM）是一种常见的温敏、水溶性聚合物，而 Hercosett 是一种常用于造纸工业的阳离子树脂。在本文中，Hercosett™和聚（N-异丙基丙烯酰胺）（PNIPAM）纳米粒子被用于制备在水中表现出温敏行为和溶胀-收缩性质的复合膜。首先，合成了尺寸可控的 PNIPAM 水凝胶纳米粒子。然后通过薄膜铸造将这些纳米粒子嵌入阳离子树脂 Kymene 577H 的基质中。研究了纳米粒子在树脂膜中的分布。对合成的 PNIPAM 水凝胶纳米粒子和复合膜的温敏性能以及溶胀-收缩循环的重复性进行了表征。纳米粒子的存在赋予了薄膜极高的保水能力（与仅含树脂的薄膜相比），最重要的是赋予了温敏性。实际上观察到了非常快速的光学和形态响应。由于具有双重（光学和形态）响应，这个新系统适用于光学或形态致动和门控的应用。
