Temperature Effect on the Elasticity of Acrylamide-n-Isopropylacrylamide Copolymers

Abstract

Acrylamide (AAm) - N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) copolymers were prepared via free radical crosslinking copolymerization with various weight percentages (wt%) of AAm and NIPA. The temperature dependence of the compressive elastic modulus G and toughness U-TU- of the PAAm- NIPA copolymers due to a volume phase transition was found using a compressive testing technique. It was observed that the compressive elastic modulus increased comprehensively when the temperature was increased between 30 degrees C and 60 degrees C. The PAAm- NIPA copolymers presented higher values of the compressive elastic modulus than pure NIPA above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) (NIPA exhibits a volume phase transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic in water at 31 degrees C) and their compressive elastic modulus and toughness had a strong temperature dependence.