Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol.25, No.6, 720-723, 2004
The association of tetraalkylammonium ions with poly(vinyl methyl ether) in water and its effect on phase-separation behavior as studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy
The thermosensitive phase-separation of poly-(vinyl methyl ether) in water has been investigated by micro-Raman spectroscopy in the presence of tetraalkylammonium bromides. The equilibrium distribution of both polymer and salts to the polymer-rich and solvent-rich phases was determined as a function of temperature. Tetraalkylammonium ions with longer alkyl chains associate more strongly with PVME and raise the phase-transition temperature due to an increase in hydrophilicity.
Keywords:phase separation;poly(vinyl methyl ether);Raman spectroscopy;stimuli-sensitive polymers;thermosensitive polymers