0000000000226077
AUTHOR
Rosa Ricciardi
Time-resolving Analysis of Cryotropic Gelation of Water/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Solutions via Small Angle Neutron Scattering
The structural transformations occurring in initially homogeneous aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) through application of freezing (-13 degrees C) and thawing (20 degrees C) cycles is investigated by time resolving small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). These measurements indicate that formation of gels of complex hierarchical structure arises from occurrence of different elementary processes, involving different length and time scales. The fastest process that could be detected by our measurements during the first cryotropic treatment consists of the crystallization of the solvent. However, solvent crystallization is incomplete, and an unfrozen liquid microphase more concentr…
Structural Organization of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels Obtained by Freezing and Thawing Techniques: A SANS Study
The structural organization of matter in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels obtained by repeatedly freezing and thawing dilute solutions of PVA in D2O is investigated by use of small-angle neutron scattering measurements (SANS). This study is the first systematic and quantitative investigation in the medium range of length scales on PVA hydrogels obtained by freezing and thawing techniques. The studied gels have a complex hierarchical structure, extending over a wide range of length scales. The structural organization on the micron length scale originates from the presence of two separated phases constituted by polymer-rich and polymer-poor regions. The network structure may be interpreted…
Mesoscopic and Microscopic Investigation on Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels in the Presence of Sodium Decylsulfate
The structure of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels formed as a result of freeze/thaw treatments of aqueous solutions of the polymer (11 wt % PVA) in the freshly prepared state is analyzed through the combined use of small (SANS) and ultrasmall (USANS) angle neutron scattering techniques. The structure of these hydrogels may be described in terms of polymer rich regions, with dimensions of the order of 1-2 microm, dispersed in a water rich phase, forming two bicontinuous phases. The PVA chains in the polymer rich phase form a network where the cross-linking points are mainly crystalline aggregates of PVA having average dimensions of approximately 45 A. The structural organization of freeze…