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Sol-Gel Coexisting Phase of Polymer Microgels Triggers Spontaneous Buckling
Keisuke Koyanagi1, Kazue Kudo2, Miho Yanagisawa1
1Department of Applied Physics , Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology , Naka-cho 2-24-16, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588 , Japan.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 15, 2019
Summary
Core-shell microgels can buckle spontaneously due to interfacial tension, not just pressure. This spontaneous buckling is governed by the balance between gel elasticity and interfacial tension, offering new ways to control microgel shape.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Mechanical buckling is common in elastic bodies like core-shell microgels.
- Conventional theories attribute buckling to high applied pressure.
- Spontaneous buckling without external pressure is observed but not fully explained.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of spontaneous buckling in core-shell microgels.
- To explore the role of interfacial tension in inducing spontaneous buckling.
- To establish a theoretical framework for spontaneous buckling and shape control.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of core-shell microgel mechanics.
- Introduction of interfacial tension between core and shell phases.
- Mathematical modeling relating material properties to buckling conditions.
Main Results:
- Core-shell microgels in a sol-gel phase exhibit spontaneous buckling at specific shell thickness ratios.
- Spontaneous buckling is driven by the interplay between gel elasticity (E) and interfacial tension (γ).
- The characteristic length (γ/E) relative to microgel size (R) dictates buckling conditions.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial tension is a key factor in spontaneous microgel buckling.
- Buckling behavior is predictable based on material properties and microgel dimensions.
- Findings provide a framework for utilizing spontaneous buckling in elastic body shape control.
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