Interaction of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon hydrophobically co-modified PAA with a nonionic surfactant: rheological properties of polymer solutions in the absence of salt

The interaction of a new hydrocarbon (HC) and fluorocarbon (FC) co-modified poly(acrylic acid), SA-1-FX14-1, with a HC nonionic surfactant, Np7.5, was investigated by rheological measurements. Its solution property was compared with HC or FC modified counterpart. It was found that the incompatibility between HC and FC groups in the micellization process was improved in the solution of SA-1-FX14-1. The terpolymer SA-1-FX14-1 associated with Np7.5 more like SA-2 rather than FX14-2. The latter interacted weakly with the HC surfactant due to the lipophobic tendency of the FC hydrophobe. The random distribution of FC and HC hydrophobes along the polyelectrolyte backbone was confirmed to be responsible for the compromised miscibility of HC and FC hydrophobes demonstrated in the system of SA-1-FX14-1 and Np7.5. Several affecting factors, such as backbone rigidity, polymer concentration, surfactant concentration, and FC modifying degree of the terpolymers, were also taken into account. In terms of hybrid surfactants, this type of hybrid polysoap is promising to serve as novel media improving the miscibility of HC and FC groups just as those hybrid small molecule surfactants have done.