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How PNIPAM Microgel Architecture Controls Pickering Foam Formation
Antoine Brézault1,2,3, Anne R Rousseau3,4,5, Véronique Schmitt1
1Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS UMR 5031, Pessac, France.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|February 2, 2026
Summary
This study shows poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels can create stable foams. Higher microgel concentration and specific structures enhance foamability, with faster particle adsorption improving foam stability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid and Surface Science
Background:
- Pickering foams, stabilized by particles, are crucial in various industrial applications.
- Microgels, as soft polymeric particles, offer tunable architectures for foam stabilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the foamability of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgel dispersions.
- To understand how microgel properties influence foam characteristics and stability.
Main Methods:
- Foams were generated by bubbling air through PNIPAM microgel dispersions.
- Foam properties were assessed macroscopically and microscopically.
- Adsorption kinetics were measured using pendant drop tensiometry.
Main Results:
- Increased PNIPAM microgel concentration and core-shell structure enhanced foamability, producing smaller bubbles and wetter foams.
- Microgel size had a minimal impact on foam properties.
- Faster adsorption kinetics correlated with improved foamability, a effect amplified by salt addition.
Conclusions:
- PNIPAM microgel concentration and architecture are key factors in foam generation and stability.
- Adsorption kinetics significantly influence foamability, with faster rates leading to enhanced foam performance.
- Salt addition can be used to accelerate adsorption and improve foamability.
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