Abstract
Block copolymer molecules consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks display the tendency to aggregate in aqueous solutions, forming structures well-known as micelles. In these micelles, the hydrophilic blocks constitute the shell region while the hydrophobic blocks form the micellar core. This phenomenon is entirely analogous to the formation of micelles by the conventional low molecular weight surfactant molecules. The concentration at which the micelles are fust detected is known as the critical micelle concentration (CMC). In the case of block copolymers, because of the large size of the hydrophobic block, the CMC is often negligibly small when compared to the CMCs of low molecular weight surfactant systems.
Published Version
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