Patent ID: 6830670
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A heat-sensitive medium for the separation of species in a separating channel, comprising: an electrolyte in which at least a set of block copolymers is dissolved, said block copolymers being provided in said electrolyte at a sufficient concentration to confer to said medium the ability to reversibly transit from a viscosity state V1, obtained at a temperature T1, to a viscosity state V2 which is at least 100% higher than V1, obtained at a temperature T2 between 40Â° C. and 80Â° C.,wherein said block copolymers comprise on average, in their structure at least a first polymeric segment which is soluble in the electrolyte at the temperatures T1 and T2, and more than two additional non-contiguous polymeric segments exhibiting an LCST in said electrolyte and having an average number of atoms along their main chain which is greater than 50.