Preparation and solution performance for the amphiphilic polymers with different hydrophobic groups

ABSTRACT An amphiphilic polymer with twin‐tailed hydrophobic groups was prepared by micellar polymerization of acrylamide as hydrophilic monomers, 2‐acryloylamino‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid as functional monomers and N,N‐dodecyl acrylamide as hydrophobic monomers. Using the same method, containing single‐tailed hydrophobic group of the amphiphilic polymer and not containing the hydrophobic group of ordinary polymer were prepared. The molecular structure of the product was characterized by infrared spectrum and 1H nuclear magnetism resonance spectrum. By inclusion complexation of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), the hydrophobic association on the apparent viscosity contribution rate was studied. Relationship between hydrophobic group structure and its performance was investigated by the rotational viscometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence spectroscopy, and rheometer. The results showed that amphiphilic polymers containing twin‐tailed hydrophobic groups had a lower critical aggregation concentration (CAC). When the amphiphilic polymer concentration was higher than CAC, hydrophobic association was stronger, which led to a higher apparent viscosity contribution rate. At the same polymer solution concentration, amphiphilic polymer containing twin‐tailed hydrophobic group had better performance on temperature resistance, salt tolerance, and mechanical shear resistance compared with the other two polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44744.