Preparation of monodisperse poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel particles with homogenous cross-link density distribution

Monodisperse microgel latex with homogeneous cross-link density distribution within the particles was prepared by feeding the monomer and cross-linker into the reaction mixture in a regulated way during the polymerization. To determine the appropriate monomer feeding parameters, the kinetics of the particle formation was investigated by HPLC. The swelling and optical characteristics of the prepared homogenously cross-linked microgel particles were compared to the properties of inhomogenously cross-linked microgels prepared by the normal precipitation polymerization method. The distribution of the cross-link density within the particles inserts a great influence on the characteristics of the system. The degree of swelling of the homogeneous particles is significantly higher than that of the heterogeneous microgel particles. Furthermore, at room temperature the pNIPAm latex containing the homogeneously cross-linked particles is transparent, while the heterogeneously cross-linked particles form a highly turbid system at the same 0.1 wt% concentration.