Investigation of preparation and mechanisms of a dispersed particle gel formed from a polymer gel at room temperature

PLoS One. 2013 Dec 6;8(12):e82651. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082651. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

A dispersed particle gel (DPG) was successfully prepared from a polymer gel at room temperature. The polymer gel system, morphology, viscosity changes, size distribution, and zeta potential of DPG particles were investigated. The results showed that zirconium gel systems with different strengths can be cross-linked within 2.5 h at low temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results showed that the particles were polygonal particles with nano-size distribution. According to the viscosity changes, the whole preparation process can be divided into two major stages: the bulk gel cross-linking reaction period and the DPG particle preparation period. A polymer gel with a 3-dimensional network was formed in the bulk gel cross-linking reaction period whereas shearing force and frictional force were the main driving forces for the preparation of DPG particles, and thus affected the morphology of DPG particles. High shearing force and frictional force reduced the particle size distribution, and then decreased the zeta potential (absolute value). The whole preparation process could be completed within 3 h at room temperature. It could be an efficient and energy-saving technology for preparation of DPG particles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gels / chemistry*
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Particle Size
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Temperature*
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Gels
  • Polymers

Grants and funding

This work was sponsored by Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (number 51174221), Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar of Shandong Province (number JQ201013), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (number 20110226), Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Reserch Team in University (IRT1294). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.