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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Magnetic and Thermal-sensitive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based Microgels for Magnetically Triggered Controlled Release
Published on: July 4, 2017
Thermally latent water in a polymer matrix
Makoto Gemmei-Ide1, Atsushi Ohya, Hiromi Kitano
1Department of Environmental Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama 930-8555, Japan. ide@eng.u-toyama.ac.jp
Infrared spectroscopy reveals all water phase transitions in polymer solids, challenging previous assumptions based solely on differential scanning calorimetry. This finding expands our understanding of water
Area of Science:
- Polymer science
- Physical chemistry
- Materials science
Background:
- Water's phase transitions in polymer-water systems are typically assumed to be limited to freezing/melting.
- This assumption, based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), overlooks other phase behaviors regardless of polymer solubility or water content.
- The ease of interpreting DSC data reinforces this limited understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the complete range of water phase transitions within polymer solids.
- To challenge the conventional understanding of water's behavior in polymer matrices.
- To compare the capabilities of infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry in analyzing water phase transitions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing infrared (IR) spectroscopy to analyze water states in polymer solids.
- Comparing IR spectroscopic results with data from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
Main Results:
- Infrared spectroscopy provided definitive evidence for all phase transitions among the three states of water (solid, liquid, gas) within a polymer solid.
- Calorimetric analysis, specifically DSC, failed to detect transitions such as condensation, deposition, sublimation, and vaporization.
- The study demonstrated that IR spectroscopy offers a more comprehensive view of water phase behavior in polymers than DSC.
Conclusions:
- The conventional understanding of water phase transitions in polymer systems is incomplete.
- Infrared spectroscopy is a superior method for detecting the full spectrum of water phase transitions in polymer solids.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and implications of these diverse phase transitions.
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