Self-aggregation of poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly(sulfonated glycidyl methacrylate) copolymers

The self-aggregation of a series of amphiphilic poly(methyl methacrylate)-b lock-poly(sulfonated glycidyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PSGMA) copolymers in wa ter has been studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), size exclusion chro matography (SEC) and surface tension measurements. All the copolymers consi dered in this study form micelles which, however, aggregate into larger str uctures as shown by DLS and SEC. These larger structures dissociate into sm aller ones upon increasing the temperature. The extent of this dissociation process is strongly dependent on the copolymer composition. It is large as the content of the hydrophilic block is high. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevi er Science Ltd.