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Download fileMicellization and Phase Separation in Aqueous Solutions of Thermosensitive Block Copolymer Poly(N‑isopropylacrylamide)‑b‑poly(N‑vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) upon Heating
journal contribution
posted on 2019-06-25, 20:43 authored by Chen Kuang, Shin-ichi Yusa, Takahiro SatoA thermosensitive block copolymer,
poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-b-poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PNIPAM-b-PNVP),
self-associates into spherical micelles and/or
spherical droplets of the concentrated phase in water upon heating.
We have determined the weight fractions of the spherical micelle,
the spherical droplet, and the isolated chain in aqueous solutions
of three PNIPAM-b-PNVP samples with different contents x of the more hydrophobic PNIPAM in the copolymer, as functions
of the temperature by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). When x decreases, PNIPAM-b-PNVP prefers to form
the spherical micelle rather than to form the spherical droplet of
the concentrated phase. This SAXS result is consistent with the theoretical
prediction based on the lattice model.