Interaction of non-ionic hydrogels with small aromatic molecules

Measurements are reported on the swelling behaviour at 20 C of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) gels in aqueous solutions of two weak aromatic acids, phenol and resorcinol. For solute concentrations below 45 mmol/l, the uptake of these solutions is similar. Phenol exhibits an excess equilibrium concentration inside the gel of 5% over that in the surrounding bath, While for resorcinol, the excess is found to be 12%. At 50 mmol/l solute concentration, both systems display a volume transition accompanied by expulsion of the solvent. The solubility limits in water of these aromatic compounds are significantly different (870 and 9080 mmol/l, respectively), and are far above this critical concentration. In the collapsed condition, the expelled liquid spreads on the surface of the phenol-treated gel, while an ordered arrangement of separate droplets is generated in the case of resorcinol. In the latter case, an acute contact angle was observed. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.