L. Bromberg et al., Interactions among hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes and surfactants of the same charge, LANGMUIR, 16(6), 2000, pp. 2609-2614
Effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on surface tension and rheology of
aqueous solutions of an associative polymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(pr
opylene oxide)-b-(poly(ethylene oxide))-g-poly(acrylic acid) (Pluronic-PAA)
have been studied. SDS starts to bind to the Pluronic-PAA copolymer at a c
oncentration that is 25-fold lower than the critical micellization concentr
ation (CMC) of the surfactant. The data indicate predominant binding betwee
n SDS and polyether segments of Pluronic-PAA. Incorporation of SDS into the
Plutonic micelles makes the polymer less surface-active, as the surface te
nsion increases. The Pluronic-PAA chains collapse when SDS binds, because t
he surfactant enhances hydrophobic intramolecular associations.