Reversible, discontinuous volume changes of ionized isopropylacrylamide cells
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsToyoichi Tanaka, Yoshitsugu Hirokawa
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Abstract
An ionic gel formed by polymerization of isopropylacrylamide in the presence of an ion-containing monomer, a crosslinking agent and a suitable liquid medium is provided. The gel is capable of drastic volume change in response to solvent composition, temperature, pH, or ion composition.
Claims4
An ionic gel having a reversible phase transition function characterized by a drastic volume change in response to a change of liquid medium composition, temperature, pH or ion composition which comprises a polymerized product obtained by polymerization of isopropylacrylamide in the presence of an ion-containing monomer selected from the group consisting of a metal-containing acrylate and a metal containing methacrylate, a crosslink agent and a liquid medium selected from the groups consisting of water, a solvent compatible with water and a mixture of said solvent and water, said ion containing monomer being ion exchanged to replace said metal with hydrogen ion subsequent to said polymerization.
An ionic gel having a reversible phase transition function characterized by drastic volume change in response to a change of liquid medium composition, pH or ion composition or temperature which comprises a polymerized product obtained by polymerization of isopropylacrylamide and an ion-containing monomer selected from the group consisting of a metal containing acrylate and a metal containing methacrylate in the presence of N,-methylene-bisacrylamide and a liquid medium selected from the group consisting of water, a solvent compatible with water and a mixture of said solvent and water, said ion container monomer being ion exchanged to replace said metal with hydrogen ion subsequent to said polymerization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.