A study of multicompartment polymeric micelles

A series of novel polymerizable hydrocarbon (H) and fluorocarbon (F) cation ic acrylamido surfactants were prepared, characterized and used as comonome rs for the synthesis of multicompartment polymeric micelles. The nature of the amido group of the surfactant, either N-monosubstituted (CONRH) or disu bstituted (CONRC2H5) is one of the key parameters governing their solution behavior. Thus, micellar growth for pure F-surfactants and miscibility/inco mpatibility for mixed systems depend on the possibility of H-bond formation . Radical polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous solution in the presence of demixing hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon polymerizable micelles leads to wa ter-soluble polymers containing well segregated hydrocarbon and fluorocarbo n domains as confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce S.A. All rights reserved.