Temperature-driven volume transition in hydrogels: phase--coexistence and interface localization
Soft Condensed Matter
2016-04-20 v2 Materials Science
Abstract
We study volume transition phenomenon in hydrogels within the framework of Flory-Rehner thermodynamic modelling; we show that starting from different models for the Flory parameter different conclusions can be achieved, in terms of admissible coexisting equilibria of the system. In particular, with explicit reference to a one-dimensional problem we establish the ranges of both temperature and traction which allow for the coexistence of a swollen and a shrunk phase. Through consideration of an augmented Flory-Rehner free-energy, which also accounts for the gradient of volume changes, we determine the position of the interface between the coexisting phases, and capture the connection profile between them.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1502.03389,
title = {Temperature-driven volume transition in hydrogels: phase--coexistence and interface localization},
author = {Emilio N. M. Cirillo and Paola Nardinocchi and Giulio Sciarra},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1502.03389},
year = {2016}
}