Issue 47, 2014

Non-aqueous microgel particles: synthesis, properties and applications

Abstract

Microgels are cross-linked polymer latex particles that can form stable colloidal dispersions. Their typical sizes range from 10 to 1000 nm and they can swell in response to their external environment (pH, temperature and solvency). This swelling behaviour is central to many potential applications for microgels. The existing literature is dominated by studies of the properties of aqueous microgel dispersions. In contrast, this review focusses on the development of microgel particles in non-aqueous systems, looking at the challenges of studying these particles as well as their swelling behaviour. The five main mechanisms of producing microgel particles will be discussed and examples of materials used for microgels that swell in non-aqueous solvents will be given. Finally some examples of applications for non-aqueous microgels are given.

Graphical abstract: Non-aqueous microgel particles: synthesis, properties and applications

Article information

Article type
Tutorial Review
Submitted
18 Aug 2014
Accepted
13 Oct 2014
First published
20 Oct 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Soft Matter, 2014,10, 9384-9398

Author version available

Non-aqueous microgel particles: synthesis, properties and applications

J. A. Bonham, M. A. Faers and J. S. van Duijneveldt, Soft Matter, 2014, 10, 9384 DOI: 10.1039/C4SM01834F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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