Self-Assembly Processes in Aqueous Solutions of Heat-Sensitive Star-Shaped Poly-2-Ethyl-2-Oxazoline

Abstract

Light scattering and turbidimetry methods were used to study the self-assembly of macromolecules of eight-arm star-shaped poly-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline in aqueous solution. A sample with molecular mass 1100 g/mole was studied. The phase separation temperature for this polymer is higher than for stars with arms of poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline, which is a consequence of the higher dehydration temperature of poly-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline. The star-shaped architecture and the presence of a hydrophobic calix[8]arene ring for this polymer were found to have hardly any effect on the low critical solution temperature.