Surface activity and solubilization of a novel series of functional polyurethane surfactants

Abstract

AbstractFunctional polyurethane surfactants (di‐block and tri‐block) were synthesized by addition polymerization of 2,4‐toluenediisocyanate with poly(propylene oxide) and monoallyl‐end‐capped poly(ethylene oxide). The chemical structure of the polyurethane surfactants was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopy. These polymeric surfactants were found to have excellent surface activity. The lowest surface tension of polyurethane surfactant aqueous solutions could be reduced to 37.6 mN m−1. All the polyurethane surfactants synthesized had low critical micelle concentrations and could reduce the surface tension even at very low concentration levels (10−6–10−5 mol L−1). The solubilization of toluene in micelles of the synthesized polyurethane surfactants was studied using UV‐visible spectroscopy, and the results showed that they all exhibited good solubilization capacity. Possible solubilization positions of toluene in the micelles are conjectured. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry