Effect of gamma irradiation on HPC phase separation.

Abstract

Hydroxyl-propyl-cellulose (HPC) is a cellulose derivative able to form gel on increasing temperature above 40-44°C. Similarly, to other amphiphilic polymers, HPC undergoes a phase separation when heated above its Low Critical Solution Temperature (LCST). When the system is brought above LCST, the solution demixes in more and less concentrated regions. The driving force is generated by the entropy gain of the solvent upon association of solute molecules. Moreover, the phase separation is intrinsically connected to a polymeric condensation from random coil to compact globule.