Eur. Phys. J. E (2010) 31: 269-274
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2010-10572-8

Regular Article

Transient modeling for kinetic swelling/deswelling of the ionic-strength-sensitive hydrogel

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore

^* e-mail: lihua@ntu.edu.sg

Received: 1 December 2009
Revised: 25 January 2010
Accepted: 26 January 2010
Published online: 13 March 2010

Abstract

The multi-effect-coupling ionic-strength-stimulus (MECis) model is presented for transient simulation of the kinetic deformation behavior of the ionic-strength-sensitive hydrogel, based on the laws of conservation of mass and momentum, where the chemical, electrical and mechanical effects are considered on the kinetics of the hydrogel. The simulated kinetic swelling/shrinking characteristics by the MECis model are compared with the experiments. It is concluded that the model is able to predict well the responsive variation of the ionic-strength-sensitive hydrogel with time.