Macromolecules, Vol.33, No.21, 7868-7876, 2000
Static inhomogeneities in physical gels: Comparison of temperature-induced and concentration-induced sol-gel transition
The gel-sol transition of a physical gel comprising poly(vinyl alcohol), Congo Red, and water has been studied by static/dynamic light scattering (SLS/DLS). SLS speckle patterns appeared exclusively in the gel state as observed in chemical gels (i.e., covalent bonded gels). The speckle patterns disappeared when temperature (T) was raised or concentration (C) was lowered across the temperature-induced or concentration-induced gel-sol transition point. The time-intensity correlation function obtained by DLS showed a clear transition from a power law to a stretched exponential behavior at the transition point. The transition is discussed in conjunction with the site-bond percolation theory.