Concentration dependence of the low-shear viscosity of polyelectrolyte micro-networks: From hard spheres to soft microgels

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1999 EDP Sciences
, , Citation R. Borrega et al 1999 EPL 47 729 DOI 10.1209/epl/i1999-00451-1

0295-5075/47/6/729

Abstract

The low-shear viscosity of polyelectrolyte microgels is studied as a function of concentration, crosslink density and ionic strength. The variation of the viscosity with volume fraction is very similar to that found in hard-sphere colloidal suspensions. In salt-free dispersions, osmotic effects are responsible for the de-swelling of microgels at high polymer concentration. This "softening" effect modifies the viscosity near the overlap concentration.

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