Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Anionic Polymerization of an Amphiphilic Copolymer for Preparation of Block Copolymer Micelles Stabilized by π-π Stacking Interactions
Published on: October 10, 2016
Role of textile substrate hydrophobicity on the adsorption of hydrosoluble nonionic block copolymers
Junlong Song1, Carlos Salas2, Orlando J Rojas3
1Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science & Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, PR China; Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA.
Abstract:
The adsorption of polyalkylene glycols and co-polymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide on substrates relevant to textiles with varying surface energies (cellulose, polypropylene, nylon and polyester) was studied by using quartz crystal microgravimetry. Langmuirian-type isotherms were observed for the adsorption profiles of nonionic block polymers of different architectures. The affinity with the surfaces is discussed based on experimental observations, which highlights the role of hydrophobic effects. For a given type of block polymer, micellar and monomeric adsorption is governed by the balance of polymer structure (mainly, chain length of hydrophobic segments) and substrate's surface energy.
Related Concept Videos
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers
Surface Active Agents
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

