Structural investigation of thermo-responsive block-polymers with microemulsions in water
Albert Prause1, Michelle Hechenbichler2, Benjamin von Lospichl1, André Laschewsky2,3 and Michael Gradzielski1
1Department of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 124, 10623, Berlin, GER
2Department of Chemistry, Universität Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, GER
3Applied Polymer Research IAP, Fraunhofer Institute, Geiselbergstr. 69, 14476, Potsdam, GER
Materials with a controlled response on external stimuli are very attractive for research and applications. For our research temperature is in focus as an external stimulus. Thermo-responsive block-polymers were synthesised via RAFT polymerization. Starting from a structure motive with a dodecyl (C)-chain as hydrophobic tail, a permanent hydrophilic block consisting of N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and a thiocarbonate based residual. For temperature response a second block is added based on a monomer with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) like -isopropylacrylamide (NiPAm). The droplet microemulsion (ME) is prepared out of -tetradecyldimethylamine oxid (TDMAO) and an oil like n-decane in water. Our studies focus on the structural investigation of the thermo-responsive block-polymer in water with respect to structural changes with increasing temperature. Light and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) were performed for insights into structural arrangements of polymer and polymer-microemulsion aggregates in water.