Elastic Properties of a Swollen PAAm-NIPA Copolymer with Various NIPA Contents

Abstract

Copolymer based on cross-linked polyacrylamide (PAAm) having N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) was prepared and their elastic properties were studied as a function of NIPA contents. NIPA content dependency of the shear modulus S of the PAAm-NIPA copolymers due to volume phase transition was measured using tensile testing technique at 30 degrees C. It was observed that its shear modulus and toughness were found to be strongly dependent on NIPA content. It is understood that the shear modulus was found to increase with NIPA contents keeping constant temperature at 30 degrees C. Elastic properties of the PAAm-NIPA copolymers show compositional dependence.