Kyriakos, K. (Corresponding author)

2015

Abstract: The behavior of the thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) PNIPAM in mixtures of water and short chain alcohols is the main subject of this dissertation. By means of time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering, the aggregation kinetics of PNIPAM-based materials in mixed solvents above the phase separation is studied, and theoretical models are employed to quantify the observed influence on a mesoscopic length scale. By means of quasielastic neutron scattering, the solvation mechanism of PNIPAM is studied and the local, molecular interactions between polymer-solvent and solvent-solvent are characterized.

Keyword(s): Basic research (1st) ; Others (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd)

1. E13
2. KWS2
3. TOFTOF
4. J-NSE

1. KWS-2: Small angle scattering diffractometer (NL3ao)
2. J-NSE: Neutron spin-echo spectrometer (NL2ao)
3. TOFTOF: Cold neutron time-of-flight spectrometer (NL2au)