Behavior of a Thermosensitive Star-Shaped Polymer with Polyethyloxazoline-block-Polyisopropyloxazoline Copolymer Arms

Abstract

The aqueous solutions of the star-shaped eight-arm polymer in which arms consist of the block copolymer of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) and poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) and a more hydrophilic poly(2- ethyl-2-oxazoline) is attached to the calix[8]arene core are studied by light scattering and turbidimetry. For the sake of comparison, the linear block copolymer modeling arms of the star-shaped polymer is examined. The temperature and concentration dependences of light scattering intensity and optical transmission, the hydrodynamic radii of particles occurring in solutions, and their fraction in solution are determined. At room temperature, solutions of the linear copolymer are molecularly dispersed because of a high hydrophilicity of blocks and aggregates are formed in solutions of the star-shaped polymer as a result of interaction between hydrophobic calix[8]arene cores. As the temperature grows, the dehydration of poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) units initially occurs and entails both the compaction and aggregation of star-shaped molecules. At higher temperatures, the dehydration of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) leading to phase separation begins. The temperature of phase separation grows upon dilution. A high intramolecular density of the star-shaped polymer is responsible for a marked deceleration of self-organization processes. This effect is especially pronounced in the vicinity of the phase-separation temperature.