2011 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Establishment of Novel Adhesion Mechanism Using Unique Nano-Structures of Swollen Hydrogel Surfaces

Research Project

Project/Area Number	22651033
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Nanostructural science
Research Institution	Yokohama National University
Principal Investigator	SUZUKI Atsushi 横浜国立大学, 環境情報研究院, 教授 (90162924)
Project Period (FY)	2010 – 2011
Keywords	ハイドロゲル / N-イソプロピルアクリルアミド / ポリアクリル酸ナトリウム / ポリビニルアルコール / 相転移 / 接着 / 表面ナノ構造 / 粘弾性
Research Abstract	In this study, we investigated a new method to induce the adhesive force and debonding separation of hydrogels in response to environmental conditions. The effects of temperature and water content on the adhesion properties of thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(sodium acrylate), and poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels were extensively studied. We found that the adhesion between hydrogels can be controlled by changing the external conditions. The method is generic in any combination of a stimulus-responsive gel and its stimulus ; the adhesive force and debonding separation can be easily controlled only by adjusting an external stimulus.

(4 results)