Thermo Responsive Polymer PNIPAM as SMART Window Coatings
The thermo-responsive properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-3(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (PNIPAM) will be investigated across different solvent systems in their ability to undergo transition and coat glass. This study employs cloud point tests, assessing transmittance across a temperature range encompassing the transition temperature. The analysis focuses on different solvents and solvent systems, and their repeatability. Furthermore, the ability of each solvent for spin-coating the polymer onto glass and silicone wafers will be examined. Variations in coating thickness, influenced by solvent volatility and intermolecular forces, will be considered. Ethanol and methanol are the most optimal solvent systems, demonstrating ideal volatility for producing uniform coatings at reasonable thicknesses and exhibiting high repeatability in cloud point tests. In the future, solvent systems including water may be spin coated, to create more sustainable coating systems for when it is introduced to wide scale productions.