Pw. Zhu et Dh. Napper, The effect of molecular weight on the dynamics of adsorbed poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) at particle surfaces in water, MACRO CH P, 200(4), 1999, pp. 698-705
The relaxation dynamics of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) at surfaces
of poly(N-tert-butylacrylamide) latex particles was studied to determine t
he influence of molecular weight on the relaxation process of interfacial P
NIPAM chains. The relaxation dynamics of adsorbed PNIPAM layers under the p
resent experimental conditions was postulated to include the extended-to-lo
opily adsorbed state transition of tightly adsorbed chains and the diffusio
n of tenuously adsorbed or dangling chains, combined with a slow conformati
onal equilibrium. The dynamics was described by a nonexponential rate proce
ss. The relaxation times calculated were found to show a weak dependence on
molecular weight. The kinetic constraints for the relaxation in the presen
t system are believed to be stronger than those in the normal polymer adsor
ption from solutions.