Polymerization of rodlike micelles

Anew polymerizable surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium 4-vinylbenzoate (CTVB), has been prepared and investigated. In aqueous solution, highly entangled rodlike aggregates are formed at millimolar surfactant concentrations. Free-radical polymerization of the surfactant counterions results in nearly complete conversion to a stable nonviscous solution. Small-angle neutron scattering reveals that the micellar diameter of 40 Angstrom is unchanged during the polymerization process and that the final polymerized micelle length (400-1200 Angstrom) is determined by the relative initiator concentration. In addition, the parent rodlike micellar aggregates rearrange into spherical micelles at elevated temperature, whereas the polymerized structures are insensitive to temperature changes or dilution.