Structure and liquid crystalline phases of amphiphilic side chain polymers in aqueous solution

Abstract

AbstractFunctional amphiphilic molecules which form liquid crystalline (l.c.) phases in aqueous solutions, can be polymerized to amphiphilic side chain polymers. Depending on the formation of the polymer backbone via the hydrophobic (type A) or hydrophilic part (type B) of the monomer, it can be differentiated between two polymers. For both types of polymers a model is proposed which explains their micellar association in solution. In aqueous solutions polymers of type A should form normal spherical, rodlike and disc‐like micelles, while polymers of type B should form the corresponding reversed micelles.The phase behavior in aqueous solutions is investigated with two model systems of monomer/side chain polymer of type A. It is shown that the polymers exhibit l.c. phases, which are stable within a broader concentration range, as well as to higher temperatures compared to the corresponding monomers. The structures of the l.c. phases are in accordance with the model considerations.