Micellar and surface properties of a poly(methyl methacrylate)–block–poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymer in aqueous solution

Critical micelle concentrations (cmc) of aqueous solutions of poly(methyl methacrylate)–block–poly(N  -isopropylacrylamide) were determined at several temperatures by surface tensiometry. Below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the low ΔmicH0ΔmicH0 determined can be assigned to the PMMA block being tightly coiled in the dispersed molecular state, so that the unfavorable interactions of hydrophobic entities with water are minimized. Above the LCST the cmc value was found to increase; an anomalous behavior that can be directly related to the micelle–globule transition of the hydrophilic block. Interestingly, above the LCST the surface tension of relatively concentrated solutions was found to depend weakly on temperature not following the usual strong decrease with temperature expected for aqueous solutions.

Graphical abstractAt low temperatures, surface tensiometry in aqueous solutions of PMAA–b–PNIPAm copolymer reveals a case of almost athermal micellization.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide