Work

Breakdown kinetics of aggregates from poly(ethylene glycol‐bl‐propylene sulfide) di‐ and triblock copolymers induced by a non‐ionic surfactant

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: We explored the effects of addition of the nonionic surfactant Triton X‐100 on the stability of aggregates of poly(ethylene glycol‐bl‐propylene sulfide) di‐ and triblock copolymers. Fluorescence spectra of pyrene, used as a probe molecule, elucidated the various stages of transformation from pure copolymeric micelles to surfactant‐rich micelles. Turbidity measurements yielded insight into the mechanism of the interaction, the hydrophobicity of the copolymer driving the process. Triton X‐100 tends to strongly interact with highly hydrophobic copolymers by inserting into the core of the micellar aggregates. On the other hand, Triton X‐100 tends to interact with the corona of micelles formed by less hydrophobic copolymers which, for this reason, are more stable upon addition of this destabilizing agent. Kinetic data give evidence that only monomers, not micelles of surfactant, interact with the copolymer micelles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2477–2487, 2008

Source: Journal of Polymer Science Part A Polymer Chemistry

DOI: 10.1002/pola.22580

Authors: Simona Cerritelli, Diana Velluto, Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Antonella Fontana

Institutions: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, University of Chieti-Pescara

Language: English

Topic: Surfactants and Colloidal Systems

Subfield: Organic Chemistry

Field: Chemistry

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca

Award: Sintesi, purificazione e caratterizzazione di nanotubi di carbonio funzionalizzati