Phase separation in dilute solutions of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)

The appearance of spherical particles resulting from phase separation in dilute solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) has been observed by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The particles have a relatively narrow size distribution. The size of particles increases with increasing concentration of polymer, and decreasing heating speed. Electron microscopy confirms the existence of spherical particles with size and polydispersity in agreement with DLS.