Block copolymers containing polysoap blocks

Block copolymers containing poly(ethylene glycol) and polysoap blocks were synthesized by polymerization of cationic surface-active monomers with a ma croazoinitiator. Polysoap blocks with tail-end and head structures were obt ained. The solution and surfactant properties of these novel block copolyme rs were studied as a function of their composition, Viscosity measurements showed that with decreasing content of poly(ethylene glycol) and increasing content and alkyl chain length of the surface-active component of the poly soap block both intra- and intermolecular aggregation increased considerabl y in the case of the head-type block copolymers. In contrast to this, a cha nge in the composition of the tail-end-type block copolymers causes no dete ctable change in the aggregation behavior of these polymers. Determination of micelle polarities and solubilization capacities showed that some head-t ype block copolymers of special composition exhibit novel properties in com parison with both pure polysoaps and block copolymers containing a simple c ationic block without polysoap properties, i.e. they form less polar micell es with higher solubilization capacity.