Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics, Vol.35, No.4, 595-598, 1997
Temperature-Induced Phase-Transition of Poly(N,N-Dimethylaminoethyl Methacrylate-Co-Acrylamide)
Copolymers of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and acrylamide (AAm) were prepared to demonstrate a temperature-induced phase transition. Poly DMAEMA has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 50 degrees C in water. With copolymerization of DMAEMA with AAm, the LCST shifts to the lower temperature was observed, probably due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between amide and N,N-dimethylamino groups. FT-IR studies clearly show the formation of hydrogen bonds which protect N,N-dimethylamino groups from exposure to water and result in a hydrophobic contribution to the LCST.