Ellipsometric studies of nonionic block copolymers adsorbed at the solid/water and oil/water interfaces

Abstract

We report on the interfacial behaviour of a series of nonionic diblock copolymers at solid hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces/water and silicone oil/water interfaces, studied by ellipsometry. The polymers consist of a hydrophobic C18 chain linked to a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), block varying from 50 to 250 U. The adsorption of these copolymers at low bulk concentrations was found to be dominated by the PEO block at all interfaces. At higher concentration the copolymer forms surface aggregates at the silica surface whereas we observe a gradual increase in the adsorbed layer thickness with increased surface excess at the solid hydrophobic surface, indicating a transition from a flat conformation to brush-like layer structure. The results indicate a similar evolution in adsorbed amount with concentration at the silicone oil/water interface as at the hydrophobic silica surface. The influence of the rheological properties of the interface on the adsorption of the diblock copolymer was investigated by comparing results from two silicon oils with different viscosities. The copolymers were found to have stronger affinity to a low viscosity (990 mPa s) silicone oil than to a higher viscosity (12 800 mPa s) silicone oil and the hydrophobised silica surface. At the silicone oil/water interface the adsorption of a commercial nonionic triblock copolymer was furthermore investigated and compared with the diblock copolymers.