We
investigated the thermoresponsive behavior of poly(acrylamide-co-acrylonitrile) (poly(AAm-co-AN)) with
an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in water to apply this
polymer in cosmetic products that can be easily removed by washing
with hot water. Six kinds of poly(AAm-co-AN) polymers
were synthesized, and those containing higher contents of AN units
showed higher UCSTs in water. The amount of AN units in the resulting
copolymer was controlled only by adding AN immediately prior to the
polymerization to prevent its loss due to volatilization. We also
analyzed the UCST behavior of poly(AAm-co-AN) by
fluorometry by labeling the polymer with an environment-sensitive
fluorophore. The fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quenching titration
results, and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements revealed
that poly(AAm-co-AN) loosely aggregated below the
UCST, and the dipole–dipole interaction between the cyano groups
in AN units and the hydrogen bonds between the amide groups in the
AAm units were responsible for the cross-linking of the aggregates.
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