AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR OF AND SURFACE-TENSION REDUCTION BY COMB-LIKE AMPHIPHILIC POLYMERS

The solution behavior of a comblike polymer with hydrophobic and hydrophilic chains (DAPRAL GE 202) was studied using fluorescence spectroscopy, light scattering, and surface tension. Results suggest that the segments of the polymer aggregate at very low concentrations to form hydrophobic domains. The surface tensions of aqueous solutions were also reduced drastically comparable to those obtained by using surfactants. Surface tension and light scattering results suggest no clear critical aggregation concentration in solutions of low ionic strength, but high concentration of electrolyte favored the formation of monodisperse aggregates. Surprisingly, polymer aggregates formed in the presence of high salt concentration were more hydrophilic than those formed in the absence of any salt as indicated by pyrene fluorescence measurements.