Interpenetrating-polymer network phase-transition gels
First Claim
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1. A composition of matter, comprising:
- a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, the gel capable of undergoing a reversible, continuous or discontinuous phase transition in response to a change in a specific stimulus applied to the gel.
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Abstract
An interpenetrating gel and a method of forming an interpenetrating gel which undergoes a significantly large volume change in response to a physical or chemical stimululs is disclosed.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A composition of matter, comprising:
- a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, the gel capable of undergoing a reversible, continuous or discontinuous phase transition in response to a change in a specific stimulus applied to the gel.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A composition of matter, comprising:
an interpenetrating polymer network gel including at least a first polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a phase-transition in response to a change in a stimulus applied to the gel. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 30, 31)
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8. A gel network capable of undergoing a continuous or discontinuous phase-transition in response to a change in a stimulus, the gel comprising:
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an interpenetrating network of at least a first polymer and at least a second polymer, said polymers interpenetrating in a manner that results in an attractive interaction between the polymers of said network; wherein said attractive interaction is sufficient to cause the gel network to undergo phase-transition in response to a change in stimulus applied to the gel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 32)
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16. A method for incorporating a material into a gel, comprising the steps of:
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providing an interpenetrating polymer gel network including at least a first polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a phase-transition expansion in response to a change in a stimulus applied to the gel; contacting the gel network with the material; changing the specific stimulus such that the gel network undergoes phase-transition expansion, thereby incorporating the material into the gel network.
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17. A method for releasing a material from a gel, comprising the steps of:
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providing an interpenetrating polymer gel network including the material and at least a first polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a phase-transition collapse in response to a change in a stimulus applied to the gel; changing the specific stimulus such that the gel network undergoes a phase-transition collapse, thereby releasing the material from the gel.
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18. In a polymer, wherein the improvement comprises:
at least a first polymer and at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a continuous or discontinuous phase-transition in response to a change in a stimulus applied to the gel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of releasing a material in response to a change in stimulus comprising the steps of:
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introducing the material into a medium; coating the medium with a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, the gel being capable of undergoing a reversible phase transition in response to the change in stimulus applied to the gel; and changing the stimulus such that the gel coating expands and the material is released. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of absorbing a compound comprising the steps of:
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providing a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, the gel being capable of undergoing a reversible phase transition when contacted with the compound; and contacting the gel with the compound such that the gel expands and absorbs the compound. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of separating a compound from a liquid medium comprising the steps of:
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providing a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, the gel being capable of undergoing a reversible phase transition when contacted with the compound; contacting the gel with a liquid solution containing the compound such that the gel contracts and the compound is retained within the gel.
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33. A method of releasing a material in response to a change in stimulus comprising the steps of:
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introducing the material into a medium; coating the medium with a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction being sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a phase transition in response to the change in stimulus applied to the gel; and changing the stimulus such that the gel coating expands and the material is released. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 38)
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37. A method of absorbing a compound comprising the steps of:
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providing a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a phase transition when contacted with the compound; and contacting the gel with the compound such that the gel expands and absorbs the compound.
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39. A method of separating a compound from a liquid medium comprising the steps of:
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providing a polymer gel that includes at least one polymer interpenetrating at least a second polymer, said polymers arranged with respect to each other so that at least one type of interaction develops between at least the first and second polymers, the at least one type of interaction being sufficient to cause the gel to undergo a phase transition when contacted with the compound; contacting the gel with a liquid solution containing the compound such that the gel contracts and the compound is retained within the gel.
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Specification