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Contribution of chitin derivatives to the modification of physicochemical properties of formulations
Author(s) -
Desbrières J
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.1094
Subject(s) - cationic polymerization , pulmonary surfactant , alkyl , amphiphile , polyelectrolyte , chemistry , polymer , counterion , chitin , critical micelle concentration , hydrophobic effect , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , micelle , aqueous solution , chitosan , copolymer , ion , biochemistry , engineering
Chitin was modified to obtain controlled amphiphilic polysaccharides which may be either cationic (chitosan) or anionic (carboxymethylchitin). The hydrophile–lipophile balance (HLB, also called hydrophilic–hydrophobic balance) was modified with respect to different parameters (pH, degrees of substitution of ionic or alkyl groups) and the rheological and tensioactive properties of formulations based on these polymers have been studied. The presence of hydrophobic groups and interactions among themselves allow these polymers to act as thickening or gelling agents with an improved temperature stability. The surface activity of anionic carboxymethylchitins can be improved either by the addition of a cationic surfactant which plays the role of counterion by electrostatic interaction (forming a surfactant–polyelectrolyte complex, SPEC) or by N ‐alkylation. The SPECs are found to be more efficient than alkyl derivatives because the necessary surfactant concentration to reach tensioactive properties is much lower than its critical micellar concentration in the pure solution. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry