INTERACTION OF PEO-PPO-PEO BLOCK-COPOLYMER WITH SDS IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTION

The interaction of an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide-ethylene oxide tr iblock copolymer (pluronic F-88) with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) in aqueous medium has been studied in terms of surface tension, viscosit y, partial specific volume, dye solubilization and fluorescence. The c opolymer does not micellize in water below 5 wt% concentration at 25-3 0 degrees C and remains molecularly dissolved. Each method provided ev idence for the interaction between F-88 and SDS at a critical aggregat ion concentration for SDS of around 1 mM. The copolymer-surfactant com plex becomes saturated with increase in SDS concentration and possesse s higher solubilizing power. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.