Reference : Immense elastic nonlinearities at the demixing transition of aqueous PNIPAM solutions
Scientific journals : Article
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences : Physics
http://hdl.handle.net/10993/13878
Immense elastic nonlinearities at the demixing transition of aqueous PNIPAM solutions
English
Philipp, Martine [Technische Universität München - TUM]
Müller, Ulrich [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit >]
Aleksandrova, Ralitsa mailto [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit >]
Sanctuary, Roland mailto [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit >]
Müller-Buschbaum, P. [Technische Universität München - TUM]
Krüger, Jan-Kristian mailto [University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit >]
2013
Soft Matter
Royal Society of Chemistry
9
5034-5041
Yes (verified by ORBilu)
International
1744-683X
1744-6848
Cambridge
United Kingdom
[en] Elastic nonlinearities are particularly relevant for soft materials because of their inherently small linear
elasticity. Nonlinear elastic properties may even take over the leading role for the transformation at
mechanical instabilities accompanying many phase transitions in soft matter. Because of inherent
experimental difficulties, only little is known about third order (nonlinear) elastic constants within
liquids, gels and polymers. Here we show that a key concept to access third order elasticity in soft
materials is the determination of mode Gr¨uneisen parameters. We report the first direct observation of
third order elastic constants across mechanical instabilities accompanying the liquid–liquid demixing
transition of semi-dilute aqueous poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) solutions. Immense elastic
nonlinearities, leading to a strong strain-softening in the phase-separating PNIPAM solutions, are
observed. Molecular mechanisms, which may be responsible for these immense elastic nonlinearities, are
discussed. The importance of third order elastic constants in comparison to second order (linear) elastic
constants in the demixing PNIPAM solutions evidences the need to focus more on the general role
played by nonlinear elasticity at phase transitions within synthetic and biological liquids and gels.
http://hdl.handle.net/10993/13878
10.1039/c3sm00034f
www.rsc.org/softmatter

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