Recent Research Progress in the Synthesis and Properties of Amphiphilic Block Co-polymers and Their Applications in Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract

Amphiphilic block co-polymers are an interesting class of polymeric surfactants. They have been used as rheology modifiers, stabilizing agents of latexes, emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, flocculants, etc. In this paper the recent advances made in the synthesis of amphiphilic block co-polymer via controlled free-radical copolymerization are reviewed and surfactant properties of amphiphilic block co-polymers are described, such as critical micelle concentrations, surface activity, solubilization capacity of hydrophobic substances in micelles and foaming property. The effect of some parameters on the emulsion polymerization is presented, such as the composition and structure of amphiphilic block co-polymers, block length and the weight ratio of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, and block co-polymer concentration.

Polymeric Surfactants: Synthesis, Properties, and Links to Applications

“…16,19,22,97,116,123,192,450 In this context they are believed to act as stabilizers (probably via a steric repulsion mechanism) against coalescence 122,183 and Ostwald ripening. 259 They also decrease the interfacial tension between the two phases.…”

Polymeric micelles: authoritative aspects for drug delivery

“…Polymers containing at least three homopolymers attached at a common branching point have been termed mixed arm block copolymers, although they can also be viewed as multigraft copolymers [47]. Synthesis of block copolymers is reviewed by Zhou et al [49]. Relatively fewer studies concerning the micellization of graft copolymers have been conducted.…”

Synthesis of Artificial Membrane of Copolymer (Acrylic Acid/Butyl Acrylate) PAA-PBA for the Design of Polymersomes

“…A factorial design 2 k [34,35] was used to estimate the effects of several variables [36] acting simultaneously in conditions of PAA-PBA copolymer synthesis [37]. Low molecular weights were obtained by an experimental process in a temperature range of between 60 C and 75 C, a frequency ranging from 50 to 100 Hz and a process time of between 15 and 20 min, a monomers ratio of 1:2, and two of the initiator concentration values were used, namely 2.0 and 4.0 mg, depending on the combinations of the variables given by the experimental design, as shown in Table 1.…”