Synthesis and characterization of fluorocarbon-containing, hydrophobically associative poly(acrylic acid-co-Rf-poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomer)

Fluorocarbon- or hydrocarbon-end-capped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomers were prepared with coupling methods. Several factors affecting the synthesis were studied, and the optimal condition was ascertained. The critical micelle concentrations of these macromonomers were determined with the fluorescence method. Novel fluorocarbon-containing, hydrophobically modified, alkali-soluble copolymers were made by the copolymerization of fluorocarbon- or hydrocarbon-alkyl-endcapped PEG macromonomers with acrylic acid in an organic solvent. The effects of the macromonomer contents, polymerization conditions, spacer, temperature, shear rate, pH, and addition of salt and various surfactants on the solution viscosity were preliminarily investigated. A very strong hydrophobic association was found for these copolymer solutions. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.