Stiffness demonstration, kinetics, and reversibility
(experimental
and simulated) properties of t-CNC-g-POEG3A/PVAc nanocomposites. (a) Images of 30 wt % t-CNC-g-POEG3A/PVAc composite
placed in 25 °C water, removed from water but unable to penetrate
gelatin due to low mechanical strength, placed in 60 °C water
for 2 min, and then removed from water but now strong enough to penetrate
gelatin. (b) Tensile storage modulus (E′)
of the 30 wt % t-CNC-g-POEG3A/PVAc composite cycled 4 times between 25 and 60 °C
water. (c) EDPD simulation demonstrating the reversibility of the
temperature responsive system. (d) Stiffness versus time of 30 and
15 wt % t-CNC-g-POEG3A/PVAc composites examined using DMA. Experiments start with the
wet swollen films (1WBL), which
are then exposed to 60 °C water (1WAL). (e) EDPD kinetic simulation of network formation as a function
of time for different filler content.