Anomalous volume phase transition in a polymer gel with alternative hydrophilic–amphiphilic sequence†
Abstract
As a new class of amphiphilic conetworks, we designed and fabricated Tetra-PEG–PEGE gel formed by AB-type cross-end coupling of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) and poly(ethylglycidylether) (PEGE). The Tetra-PEG–PEGE gel displays rapid phase transition behaviour similar to or surpassing other conventional PNIPA-based hydrogels with “ultra-rapid” phase transition.