Viscoelastic behavior of thermo-responsive hydrogel during temperature swing process

- measurement of viscosity free mass effect via QCM-A -

抄録

  Viscoelastic behavior of thermo-responsive polymer hydrogel during temperature swing process was observed by means of quartz crystal microbalance with admittance analysis (QCM-A). The phase behavior of hydrogel was evaluated from the viscoelastic point of view based on the resonant parameters of the QCM, measuring the serial resonant frequency (ƒ_s), the frequency at B_min (ƒ₂) and the resonant resistance R. The change of resonance parameters at the coil-globule transition point and globule phase at above the LCST of the polymer hydrogel was monitored. The mass effect and/or elasticity of the hydrogel that is independent of viscosity influence of the gel were monitored by the ƒ₂ to identify the phenomena of temperature responsive phase behavior of the gel. The viscoelastic behavior was successfully obtained with high resolution by the QCM-A.