Version 1
: Received: 23 October 2024 / Approved: 24 October 2024 / Online: 25 October 2024 (07:37:03 CEST)
How to cite:
Luckham, P. F.; Banerjee, D. The Reversible Particle—Polymer Gel Formation “Shake Gels”: Quantifying the Hofmeister Series in the Gel. Preprints2024, 2024101958. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1958.v1
Luckham, P. F.; Banerjee, D. The Reversible Particle—Polymer Gel Formation “Shake Gels”: Quantifying the Hofmeister Series in the Gel. Preprints 2024, 2024101958. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1958.v1
Luckham, P. F.; Banerjee, D. The Reversible Particle—Polymer Gel Formation “Shake Gels”: Quantifying the Hofmeister Series in the Gel. Preprints2024, 2024101958. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1958.v1
APA Style
Luckham, P. F., & Banerjee, D. (2024). The Reversible Particle—Polymer Gel Formation “Shake Gels”: Quantifying the Hofmeister Series in the Gel. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1958.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Luckham, P. F. and Devajyoti Banerjee. 2024 "The Reversible Particle—Polymer Gel Formation “Shake Gels”: Quantifying the Hofmeister Series in the Gel" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202410.1958.v1
Abstract
This study explores the shear-induced reversible gel behavior of suspensions containing silica na-noparticles and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). When subjected to vigorous shaking, these mixtures exhibit interesting shear thickening, transitioning from low-viscosity fluids to 'shake-gels' and then reverts to liquid after some time. Rheological measurements conducted at constant shear rates re-veal a significant increase in viscosity by several orders of magnitude occurring at specific time points during the process. Followed by the lowering of the shear rate implemented to understand the relaxation behavior. The investigation specifically examines the influence of various ions from the Hofmeister series on the gelation and relaxation dynamics of these suspensions. Results indicate that salts positioned on the right-hand side of the Hofmeister series, known as salting-in agents, facilitate quicker gelation and slower relaxation of the shake-gels. Conversely, salts on the left-hand side, referred to as salting-out agents, lead to slower gelation and faster relaxation. These observa-tions are attributed to the distinct effects that different salts exert on the conformation of PEO chains. Salting-in agents induce swelling of the polymer chains, enhancing their ability to interact and bridge between silica nanoparticles effectively, thus promoting rapid gelation and sustaining the gel structure for extended periods. In contrast, salting-out agents cause the polymer chains to collapse, reducing their bridging efficiency and resulting in delayed gelation along with a more rapid return to the fluid state during relaxation. Understanding the role of specific ions in modu-lating the gelation and relaxation behavior of colloidal-polymer suspensions provides valuable in-sights for tailoring material properties in various applications, including drug delivery, oil drilling, environmental restoration, coatings, and soft matter engineering.
Chemistry and Materials Science, Physical Chemistry
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
