Microcapsules like it Hot and Salty

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Electron microscopic images of capsules of different sizes. The hollow polymer spheres collapse when they are dry like deflated footballs: a) original size of the capsules b) swollen capsules at high temperature c) shrunken capsules following additio ...
Electron microscopic images of capsules of different sizes. The hollow polymer spheres collapse when they are dry like deflated footballs: a) original size of the capsules; b) swollen capsules at high temperature; c) shrunken capsules following addition of salt. The capsule wall is thick enough to prevent collapse when salt is added. Image: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces have presented a new method with which to precisely control the permeability of microcapsules using the salt content and the temperature of the solution. In order to accomplish this, the researchers developed a theoretical model which exactly describes the processes in the polymer shell of the capsules. This means that is possible to predict, without any experimental investigations, how the properties of the hollow spheres will change if the temperature and salt content are altered (Physical Review Letters, November 3, 2006).


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