[en] During the formation at low pH of resorcinol–formaldehyde gels with a
structure in the micrometre range, small-angle X-ray scattering exhibits a nonmonotonic
intensity variation as a function of reaction time. The data are
analyzed in terms of scattering by statistical fluctuations of polymer
concentration, the amplitude of which is maximal close to the critical point
for phase separation between polymer and solvent. The data do not carry any
morphological information, but they unambiguously show that the driving force
of the gel formation is a thermodynamic instability of the polymerizing solution.
Disciplines :
Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Gommes, Cédric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie appliquée > Génie chimique - Génie catalytique
Job, Nathalie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie appliquée > Génie chimique - Génie catalytique
Pirard, Jean-Paul ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie appliquée > Génie chimique - Génie catalytique
Blacher, Silvia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Labo de biologie des tumeurs et du développement
Goderis, Bart; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - KUL
Language :
English
Title :
Critical opalescence points to thermodynamic instability:relevance to small-angle X-ray scattering of resorcinol–formaldehyde gel formation at low pH
Publication date :
2008
Journal title :
Journal of Applied Crystallography
ISSN :
0021-8898
eISSN :
1600-5767
Publisher :
Blackwell Publishing
Volume :
41
Issue :
4
Pages :
663-668
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]