Polymer Bulletin, Vol.39, No.1, 73-78, 1997
Influence of the Structure and Composition on Surface-Tension of Aqueous-Solution of Graft-Copolymers of Polyacrylamide Backbone and Polyalkyleneoxide Branches
Polyacrylamide homopolymers and graft copolymers of poly(acrylamide-g-ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylamide-g-propylene oxide) were synthesized, characterized by SEC, FTIR and C-13-NMR and the behavior of their aqueous solutions was evaluated by surface tension measurements. By using the macromonomer technique, it is more difficult to incorporate poly(propylene oxide) branches than poly(ethylene oxide) branches. Graft copolymers of polyacrylamide and poly(propylene oxide) showed higher reduction of surface tension than poly(acrylamide-g-ethylene oxide) since they present a structure made up of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, Poly(acrylamide-g-propylene oxide) exhibits surfactant behavior, and the surface tension of its aqueous solution depends on the poly(propylene oxide) graft chain length and amount.
Keywords:OXIDE)