Highly hydrophobically modified polyelectrolytes: Field variables to control emulsion type

Abstract

Highly hydrophobically modified (with n-dodecylamide chain) linear poly(acrylic acid)s (HHMPAAH) and poly(sodium acrylate)s (HHMPAANa) with various degrees of grafting (τ) were synthesized and used as emulsifiers of the n-dodecane/water system. The type of emulsion, oil in water (O/W) or water in oil (W/O), was investigated as a function of the polymer chemical structure (τ, salt or acid form of the copolymer) and aqueous phase electrolyte concentration (NaNO₃). Increasing τ and/or salt concentration was found to favor the formation of inverse emulsions. Direct liquid–liquid dispersions are more likely to form with poly(sodium acrylate)s than with poly(acrylic acid)s. Hence, field variables such as τ, pH and ionic strength are relevant parameters to control emulsion type. Moreover, a balanced polyelectrolyte neither soluble in oil nor in water was synthesized for the first time. With this original emulsifier, the dispersion type was found to change from O/W to W/O with polymer salting out. The work provides convenient model system for fundamental studies of polymer conformation at liquid–liquid interfaces.