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Analytical ultracentrifugation of gels

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Abstract

Analytical ultracentrifugation is a powerful tool for the determination of thermodynamic, elastic and molecular parameters and structural properties of gels. Although gelling systems are an important class of mixtures, only a few researchers have studied their properties by means of analytical ultracentrifugation. This might be due to the extreme experimental difficulties concerning the detection of the polymer concentration in turbid gels, adhesion problems, etc. Nevertheless, the potential benefit of such experiments has led to several investigations in this field during recent years. These resulted in the introduction of a theoretical treatment of the sedimentation of even multicomponent gels and an improved experimental set-up which allows the characterization of a gel/solvent system in a limited concentration range in a single sedimentation equilibrium experiment. For microgels prepared and crosslinked in emulsions, an interesting rapid sedimentation velocity technique is available for their characterization. This review article describes the capabilities of the experimental method and what has been achieved with it in the past. Furthermore, it gives an outlook on applications which may be possible in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colloid Chemistry Department, Max-Planck-Institute for Colloid and Interface Research, Kantstraße 55, 14513, Tellow-Seehof, Germany

    H. Cölfen

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. W. Borchard on occasion of his 60th birthday

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Cölfen, H. Analytical ultracentrifugation of gels. Colloid Polym Sci 273, 1101–1137 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00653080

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