Partially hydrophilic polymers have been prepared by free-radical copolymerization of trans-4-acryloyloxyazobenzene with N-tert-butylacrylamide and N-isopropylacrylamide. A turbidimetric method has been adapted to investigate the dependence of the polymer hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance on chemical composition and extent of photoisomerization of side-chain azobenzene chromophores. Irradiation at 366 nm of polymer suspension in THF-water induces the isomerization of azobenzene groups from the planar apolar trans form to the nonplanar polar cis form. Correspondingly, the solution turbidity is appreciably modified. Experimental results are discussed in terms of polymer structural parameters. Suspension stability and the possibility of canying out photochemical cycles have been also investigated.Key words: photochromic polymers, photoresponsive polymer, photomodulation of polymer properties, azobenzene-containing polymers, acryloyloxyazobenzene, N-tert-butylacrylamide.Rksumk : On a prCpart des polymkres partiellement hydrophiles par copolymCrisation radicalaire du trans-4-acryloxyazobenzkne avec les N-tert-butylacrylarnide et N-isopropylacrylamide. On a adapt6 une mCthode turbidimktrique pour Ctudier la dCpendance de la balance hydrophile-hydrophobe sur la composition chimique et le degrC de photoisomCrisation de la chaine latCrale des chromophores azobenzknes. L'irradiation, 2i 360 nm, d'une suspension de polymkre dans un melange THF-eau induit une isomCrisation des groupes azobenzknes de la forme trans, plane et apolaire, vers la forme cis, non planaire et polaire. D'une faqon correspondante, la turbiditt de la solution est modifiee d'une faqon appreciable. On discute des risultats expCrimentaux en fonction des paramktres structuraux du polymkre. On a CtudiC la stabilitt de la suspension et la possibilitC d'effectuer des cycles photochimiques.Mots elks : polymkres photochromes, polymkre photorepondant, photomodulation des propriCtCs d'un polymkre, polymkres contenant de l'azobenzkne, acryloxyazobenzkne, N-tert-butylacrylamide.
[Traduit par la rCdaction]In recent years increasing attention has been focused on polymeric systems and gels based on N-alkylacrylamide, for their well-known properties of thermoreversible swelling or collapse, and for their possible application as drug release systems, chemo-mechanical transducers, sensors, and selective pumps (1-5). Polymer gelation can also be controlled by