A kind of temperature-sensitive water-soluble polymers P(NIPAM-HEMA-AM) of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylamide (AM) were synthesized by free radical aqueous solution copolymerization. The polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) method. Solution properties, such as the influences of monomer ratios and additives on the low critical soluble temperature (LCST) of the polymer solutions as well as the viscosity-temperature properties were studied. The results show that the polymer concentrations have no significant influence on the LCST of polymer solutions. The incorporation of HEMA units leads to a lower LCST, while AM units to a higher LCST. The additions of small molecules such as salt and surfactant also have significant effect on the LCST, the addition of NaCl decreases the LCST, while the addition of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) increases the LCST. The apparent viscosity of polymer solutions depends on temperature. The 1.5 wt % aqueous solutions of P(NIPAM-HEMA-AM) exhibits good thermo-thickening behavior over 55 degrees C, whereas the 0.8 wt % aqueous solutions do not show this behavior during the heating process. The aqueous solutions of P(NIPAM-HEMA-AM) are viscoelastic fluids, and the viscoelasticities mainly depend on temperature. Both the storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G '') of 1.5 wt % polymer solutions increase with temperature. Over 55 degrees C, G' exceeds G '', and the polymer solutions are elasticity-dominated. In contrast, below 55 degrees C, G '' is larger than G', and the polymer solutions are viscosity-dominated. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116:1099-1105, 2010