SELF-ASSEMBLY IN CONCENTRATED POLYMER SURFACTANT SYSTEMS - A SELF-DIFFUSION STUDY OF A NONIONIC RANDOM COPOLYMER NONIONIC SURFACTANT WATER-SYSTEM

The Fourier transform-NMR-pulsed gradient spin-echo technique has been used to obtain self-diffusion coefficients in the ternary system non- ionic random copolymer-non-ionic surfactant-water. The surfactant used is tetraethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C12E4), and the copolym er is a linear random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (UCON) with a molecular weight of 1700. From the self-diffusion coeffi cients of the different components, information has been deduced on in teractions and self-assembly processes. In contrast to block copolymer s, UCON does not readily take part in self-assembly. However UCON stro ngly affects surfactant self-assembly and has the effect of breaking d own surfactant self-assemblies. The ethylene oxide and propylene oxide groups behave similarly with respect to their interaction with water, and the interaction is independent of the particular solute or its st ate of aggregation.