Image of the Week - 13 July 2004

Sonicated Urea–Formaldehyde Microcapsules

ESEM images of sonicated urea–formaldehyde (UF) microcapsules. UF capsules were centrifuged from the aqueous solution in which they were formed and then air dried on a glass slide. Sonication was used to decrease the size of capsules and create smooth surfaces. All of the microcapsules are clumped together and range in diameter between hundreds of nanometers and a few microns. Separation of these clumped microcapsules is currently being investigated for uses in self-healing polymers. For more information, please visit http://www.autonomic.uiuc.edu/

Image Courtesy: Alyssa Rzeszutko and Professor Nancy Sottos

Contact: rzeszutk@uiuc.edu, n-sottos@uiuc.edu, blaiszik@uiuc.edu