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Block polyelectrolytes in aqueous environments
Author(s) -
Khougaz Karine,
Moffitt Matthew,
Zhang Lifeng,
Eisenberg Adi
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19961060144
Subject(s) - polyelectrolyte , micelle , amphiphile , dynamic light scattering , copolymer , polymer chemistry , small angle x ray scattering , materials science , chemical engineering , polymer , aggregation number , critical micelle concentration , aqueous solution , neutron scattering , chemistry , organic chemistry , nanoparticle , scattering , nanotechnology , composite material , engineering , physics , optics
Analogous to the self‐assembly of low‐molecular‐weight amphiphiles in aqueous solutions, the formation of spherical micelle‐like aggregates has been observed in systems of amphiphilic block copolymers in water. The aggregates, often called micelles due to structural similarities with surfactant associates, are found to exist above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). The micellization of amphiphilic block copolymers has been investigated using a wide range of techniques, such as size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS), small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS), small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), viscometry, and steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy. The present lecture is a review of recent work in our laboratory concerning the micellization of ionic block copolymers. These high‐molecular‐weight amphiphiles may contain one or more of a variety of ionic blocks, such as poly(4‐vinylpyridinium alkyl halides), poly(metal acrylates), poly(metal methacrylates) and sulfonated polystyrene. In water, such polymers are referred to as block polyelectrolytes, as they combine the colloidal behavior of block copolymers with the long‐range electrostatic interactions of polyelectrolytes. Early work in this field has been reviewed by Selb and Gallot. 1