In situ photon transmission technique for monitoring phase separation in real time during gelation

In situ, real time photon transmission technique was used to monitor the formation of heterogeneities during the free-radical crosslinking polymerization of acrylamide in the presence of N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BAAm) as a crosslinker. Two different gelation experiments were performed with various BAAm and water contents separately at room temperature. It was observed that the transmitted photon intensity, I-tr decreases dramatically at a certain time, in both type of experiments during the gel formation process from interconnected microgels. Decrease in I-tr was interpreted in terms of phase separation during gelation. The extent of phase separation was measured depending on the crosslinker content and on the degree of monomer dilution during the gel formation process.