Diffusion processes in polymer gels as studied by pulsed field-gradient spin-echo NMR spectroscopy

In order to study the diffusional behavior of molecules or polymers in a po lymer network with a wide range of the diffusion coefficients, we have deve loped two kinds of PGSE NMR probes with a maximum strength of the field gra dient ranging from 700 to 2000 G cm(-1). By using these probes it is possib le to measure the diffusion coefficient D with the order of about 10(-9) cm (2) s(-1). These NMR probes lead to sophisticated knowledge concerning the diffusional behavior of molecules in polymer gels. This review article is c oncerned with a series of studies on the diffusional behavior of polymer ge l systems by means of novel PGSE NMR probes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.