Six diblock copoly(oxybutylene/oxyethylene)s (Eg2B7, E50B73, E4, B, , E50B4, E24B10 and E27B5, where E represents oxyethylene and B represents oxybutylene) have been prepared by sequential anionic copolymerisation and their micellisation in aqueous solution investigated. Surface tension, static and dynamic light scattering and gel permeation chromatography techniques were used to study solutions at temperatures in the range 20 to 50°C over a wide concentration range from dilute to 100 g dm-3. The micellar properties reported are critical micelle concentrations, micellar molar masses and radii. The thermodynamics of micellisation of E , B , diblock copolymers is discussed in relation to that of related triblock copolymers ( E, , . , B, E, and E , P , E , , where P represents oxypropylene).

The gelation of concentrated aqueous micellar solutions of three diblock copoly(oxybutylene/oxyethylene)s