Amphiphilic 2-ethyl hexyl methacrylate-b-N ,N ′-dimethylacrylamide diblock copolymer monolayer behaviour at the air − water interface^†

Abstract

The surface activities of two amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing 2-ethyl hexyl methacrylate-b-N,N ′ -dimethylacrylamide (EHMA-b-DMA) possessing hydrophobic segments of different chain lengths were studied. Toward this end, surface pressure−area ( −A) isotherms, static and dynamic elasticities and the exponent of the excluded volume of polymers forming monolayers at the air−water interface were measured. The degree of hydrophobicity of the diblock copolymers was estimated by determining their surface energy values from contact angle measurements. The morphology of the monolayer at different surface pressures was studied by Brewster angle microscopy. Both copolymers were observed to form stable and elastic monolayers, and their collapse was observed to occur at similar surface pressures. Langmuir−Blodgett films were successfully deposited onto mica and silicon wafers and analysed by atomic force microscopy.

Electrochemically Mediated Aqueous Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of N,N‐Dimethylacrylamide

“…[5][6][7] Poly(N,Ndimethylacrylamide) is non-ionic, water-soluble and biocompatible and may be tailored to meet a broad range of applications; [8][9][10][11] for example it is useful as a chain transfer agent and as a functionalized polymer, sometimes copolymerized with styrene and butadiene or with methacrylates. [12][13][14] Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a powerful technique used to prepare polymers with well-defined architectures, predefined molecular weights and low dispersity. [15] Among various monomers, it has been successfully used to polymerize acrylamide and its derivatives.…”

“…As primary organic coagulants, they neutralize negatively charged colloidal material and reduce sludge volume better than inorganic coagulants . Poly( N,N ‐dimethylacrylamide) is non‐ionic, water‐soluble and biocompatible and may be tailored to meet a broad range of applications; for example it is useful as a chain transfer agent and as a functionalized polymer, sometimes copolymerized with styrene and butadiene or with methacrylates …”