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The Aggregation Behavior of Poly(ethylene oxide)‐Poly(methyl methacrylate) Diblock Copolymers in Organic Solvents
Author(s) -
Edelmann K.,
Janich M.,
Hoinkis E.,
PyckhoutHintzen W.,
Höring S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3935(20010601)202:9<1638::aid-macp1638>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - copolymer , polymer chemistry , ethylene oxide , methyl methacrylate , tetrahydrofuran , micelle , materials science , methacrylate , polymerization , polymer , dynamic light scattering , chemistry , solvent , organic chemistry , aqueous solution , nanoparticle , composite material , nanotechnology
Abstract Poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(deuteromethyl methacrylate) block copolymers have been prepared by group transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and deuteromethyl methacrylate (MMA‐ d 8 ), respectively, using macroinitiators containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Static and dynamic light scattering and surface tension measurements were used to study the aggregation behavior of PEO‐PMMA diblock copolymers in the solvents tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetone, chloroform, N , N ‐dimethylformamide (DMF), 1,4‐dioxane and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol. The polymer chains are monomolecularly dissolved in 1,4‐dioxane, but in the other solvents, they form large aggregates. Solutions of partially deuterated and undeuterated PEO‐PMMA block copolymers in THF have been studied by small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS). Generally, large structures were found, which cannot be considered as micelles, but rather fluctuating structures. However, 1 H NMR measurements have shown that the block copolymers form polymolecular micelles in THF solution, but only when large amounts of water are present. The micelles consist of a PMMA core and a PEO shell.