高分子ゲルの表面構造とパターン形成

高分子論文集(Kobunshi〔総合論文〕Ronbunshu),Vol.56,No.10,PP.626-634
高分子ゲルの表面構造とパターン形成
鈴木淳史
要旨高分子ゲルは,液体を含んで膨潤した希薄で複雑な網目構造をもつ固体であり,それを構成する分子間に働く複雑な相互作用に起因してユニークな物性を示す.ゲルの体積相転移の研究から,ゲルのもつ多様な性質の基本原理が解き明かされようとしている.本総説では,相転移に伴うゲル表面のサブミリメートルサイズの巨視的パターン,メゾスコピックサイズの微視的表面構造とその変化,不均一なバルクの網目構造と相転移について調べ,ユニークな構造と機能とのかかわりについて考察する。

Surface Structure of Polymer Gels and Paftern Formation
Atsushi SUZUKI*1
*1Department of Materials Science , Yokohama National University (Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501
Japan)
Macroscopic conformation changes were observed during the shrinking volume phase transition of cylindrical poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels with submillimeter diameters. The phase transition velocity was found to have a strongcorrelation to the surface patterns. The microscopic surface structure of polymer gels was also investigated by atomic　force microscopy. The domain structure in the submicrometer scale was found to be strongly affected by the　inhomogeneities of networks as well as the bulk phase change between the swollen and collapsed states. The swelling　curve was found to be strongly affected by the inhomogeneities of networks. The macroscopic surface properties were　discussed on the basis of an analysis of the surface structure in the submicrometer scale.
KEY WORDS Poly(N-isopropylacylamide) Gel/ Volume Phase Transition/ Shrinking Pattern/
Phase Coexistence/ Phase Transition Velocity/ Surface Structure/ Atomic Force Microscopy/
Microdomain/ Roughness Analysis/ Microparticles/ Network Inhomogeneity/
(Received June 9, 1999: Accepted June 30, 1999)