The compression of deformed microgels at an air/water interface

Abstract

The compression of deformed hydrogel microspheres (microgels) at air/water interfaces was investigated using a Langmuir-Blodgett trough with simultaneous <i>in situ</i> visualization of the process using a fluorescent microscope. The relationship between the structure of the microgel arrays and the compression behavior was clarified using microgels with different degrees of crosslinking.