Lower critical solution temperature sensitivity to structural changes in poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) homopolymers Articles uri icon

publication date

  • October 2019

start page

  • 1386

end page

  • 1393

issue

  • 20

volume

  • 57

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0887-6266

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1099-0488

abstract

  • The effect of the molecular weight on the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) has been discussed extensively, where LCST increased with molar mass, decreased or kept constant, which leads to confusion. This work is focused on the preparation of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) homopolymers, obtained in a wide molecular weights range. The LCST behavior is analyzed by calorimetry and rheology, and a deep study of molecular features is carried out for a better knowledge of the influence of various parameters involved on LCST. Finally, the molecular weight trend is observed, and its influence on LCST is compared with the effect of other parameters as polymer concentration in water, end‐group effect, and tacticity. It is observed that other parameters such tacticity and end‐group effect will affect the LCST behavior over molecular weight, if this one is not high enough. Furthermore, the study of the LCST ranges will be a useful tool for analyzing the molecular weight trends. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

subjects

  • Chemistry
  • Materials science and engineering

keywords

  • calorimetry; differential scanning calorimetry (dsc); hydrophobic interactions; isotactic; lower critical solution tem-perature; phase separation; poly(n-isopropyl acrylamide); rheol-ogy; water-soluble polymers