Microgels: Novel Colloidal Materials

Microgels are novel colloidal gels widely used because of the swelling or de-swelling exhibited under specific external conditions. In this work, the swelling and de-swelling of microgel particles is experimentally described. The medium pH, salt concentration and osmotic stress, are the three variables with which the change of phase has been realised. All transitions are found to occur well above the critical point of the system. Additionally, the basic applications in which the given transition is employed are described.