Rheology of Poly($N$-isopropylacrylamide)-Clay Nanocomposite Hydrogels

POSTER

Abstract

The stiffness of PNIPA Gels has been reported could be significant improved by gelation with clay fillers. Here we conducted systematic rheology study of synthesized PNIPA-Clay Composites at different clay concentration, in a range from fluid to strong gel, where $G''$ dominant changed to $G'$ dominant. Molecular dynamics simulation was employed to analyze the structure of composites and corresponding mechanical changes with increased clays. Where we found viscoelastic behavior become significant only 1.5 times above percolation threshold. The yield stress extrapolated from our rheology results shows good fitting to modified Mooney's theory of suspension viscosity.

Authors

  • Jack Lombardi

    Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA

  • Di Xu

    Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA

  • Divya Bhatnagar

    Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA

  • Dilip Gersappe

    Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA, Stony Brook University, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA

  • Jonathan Sokolov

    Stony Brook University, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA

  • Miriam Rafailovich

    Materials Science and Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA