Physically crosslinked gel

Jannasch P (2002) Physically crosslinked gel electrolytes based on a self-assembling ABA triblock copolymer. Polymer 43 6449-6453... 

Example 6.1 Synthesis of Hydrophilic Physically Crosslinked Gel-Building Polymer... 

Table 2 Influence of the freeze-thaw treatment on the solutions of polymeric precursors capable of forming physically crosslinked gels...

Several research groups used another interesting column technology as an alternative to the modification of the capillary surface. This method is inherited from the field of electrophoresis of nucleic acids and involves capillaries filled with solutions of linear polymers. In contrast to the monolithic columns that will be discussed later in this review, the preparation of these pseudostationary phases need not be performed within the confines of the capillary. These materials, typically specifically designed copolymers [85-88] and modified den-drimers [89], exist as physically entangled polymer chains that effectively resemble highly swollen, chemically crosslinked gels. 

They should consist of elastically effective chains only. An elastically effective chain should connect two different crosslinks, and two such crosslinks should be tied by only one elastic chain. This means that the gel should contain no defects such as pendant chains (one end of which only is connected with a crosslink), loops (chains linked at both ends to the same crosslink), or double connections. Physical crosslinks (permanent entanglements) should be prohibited, too. 

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