Macromolecules, Vol.33, No.12, 4427-4432, 2000
Thermoreversible gelation of isotropic and liquid crystalline solutions of a "sticky" rodlike polymer
Thermoreversible gelation of rodlike poly(gamma-stearyl-alpha-L-glutamate) in n-dodecane has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, visual observations, and temperature ramped fluorescence photobleaching recovery. Solutions spanning a wide range of concentrations can produce gels. In solutions that are initially liquid crystalline, long-range features such as cholesteric twist appear to be frozen by gelation. Although gelation is rapid, some of the polymer molecules retain significant mobility, allowing the gels to "cure" slowly.
Keywords:FLUORESCENCE PHOTOBLEACHING RECOVERY;BENZYL ALCOHOL SYSTEM;ROD-LIKE POLYMERS;POLY(GAMMA-BENZYL L-GLUTAMATE);CONCENTRATION FLUCTUATION;SPINODAL DECOMPOSITION;STIFFPOLYMERS;MOLECULAR AGGREGATION;LIGHT-SCATTERING;GELSTRUCTURE