HYDROPHOBICALLY END-CAPPED POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE) URETHANES .1. CHARACTERIZATION AND EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF THEIR ASSOCIATION IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

Three hydrophobically end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) urethanes have been characterized carefully by n.m.r., size exclusion chromatography (s.e.c.) and light scattering in tetrahydrofuran. Their associative behaviour in aqueous solutions has been studied by several techniques. Hydrophobic substance solubilization and surface tension measurements have shown the formation of hydrophobic microdomains above a critical concentration; s.e.c., light scattering and viscometry have allowed us to determine the molecular weights and dimensions of the aggregates. Slight differences in the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance may induce large discrepancies in the associative behaviour but it remains difficult to determine the exact role played by the chemical nature of the hydrophobic moieties.