Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Statistical copolymer'

We perform Monte-Carlo simulations of a binary, strongly separated mixture of A- and B-type homopolymers with some amount of random AB copolymers added. The interface is analyzed and the interface tension is calculated using the model of capillary waves. We can clearly demonstrate that random copolymers are localized at real, fluctuating interfaces between incompatible polymer species and micellization is not favored over adsorption. Our study proves that random copolymers are potential candidates for compatibilization of polymer-polymer mixtures. By simulating random copolymers in a one-component bulk and comparing their free energy to the copolymers adsorbed at the two-phase interface we show that the adsorption is thermodynamically stable. We use scaling arguments developed for ideal and non-fluctuating interfaces to rationalize the simulation results and we calculate the reduction of interface tension with increasing amount of the adsorbed copolymers.

In this work the morphology, crystallization and melting behavior of novel Dow Chemical propylene-ethylene copolymers were investigated. The incorporation of ethylene units into a polypropylene chain resulted in the decrease in crystallization, melting and glass transition temperatures and overall crystallinity. Based on the shape of heat capacity curves and the dependence of the melting temperature offset on ethylene content, it was concluded that copolymers prepared using different catalyst systems exhibited different ethylene sequence length distributions. The behavior of Dow Chemical propylene-ethylene copolymers was compared to that of copolymers prepared using traditional metallocene and Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The catalyst system used in the preparation of these new copolymers is similar to a metallocene catalyst system. It was demonstrated that ethylene defects are partially included in the polypropylene crystal. The thermodynamic heat of fusion at the equilibrium melting temperature decreased by 44% with an increase in ethylene concentration from 0 mol% to 21.2 mol%. On the basis of calorimetric and density data, the inclusion model based on the Sanchez-Eby crystallization theory was shown to be applicable for the evaluation of the degree of crystallinity. At the same time, inadequacies were found in application of the rigid amorphous fraction model to these copolymers. The formation of gamma-phase crystals was shown to be favored by both an increase in the ethylene content and a decrease in the crystallization rate. Increase in the ethylene content was shown to lead to a decrease in the density, length and thickness of alpha-phase crystals. It was also demonstrated that the cross-hatching morphology is present in all propylene-ethylene copolymers.
Ph. D.

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and its copolymers are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from textiles to purification membranes, packaging material and carbon fiber precursors. High performance polyacrylonitrile copolymer fiber is the most dominant precursor for carbon fibers. Synthesis of very high molecular weight poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) copolymers with weight average molecular weights of at least 1.7 million g/mole were synthesized on a laboratory scale using low temperature, emulsion copolymerization in a closed pressure reactor. Single filaments were spun via hybrid dry-jet gel solution spinning. These very high molecular weight copolymers produced precursor fibers with tensile strengths averaging 954 MPa with an elastic modulus of 15.9 GPa (N = 296). The small filament diameters were approximately 5 'm. Results indicated that the low filament diameter that was achieved with a high draw ratio, combined with the hybrid dry-jet gel spinning process lead to an exponential enhancement of the tensile properties of these fibers. Carbon fibers for polymer matrix composites are currently derived from polyacrylonitrile copolymer fiber precursors where solution spinning accounts for ~40 % of the total fiber production cost. To expand carbon fiber applications into the automotive industry, the cost of the carbon fiber needs to be reduced from $8 to ~$3-5. In order to develop an alternative melt processing route several benign plasticizers have been investigated. A low temperature, persulfate-metabisulfite initiated emulsion copolymerization was developed to synthesize poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) copolymers with acrylonitrile contents between 91-96 wt% with a molecular weight range of 100-200 kg/mol. This method was designed for a potential industrial scale up. Furthermore, water was investigated as a potential melting point depressant for these copolymers. Twenty-five wt% water lead to a decrease in the Tm of a 93/7 wt/wt % poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) of Mw = 200 kg/mol to 160 0C as measured via DSC. Glycerin, ethylene glycol and glycerin/water combinations were investigated as potential plasticizers for high molecular weight (~200,000 g/mol), high acrylonitrile (93-96 mole:mole %) content poly(acrylonitrile–co-methyl acrylate) statistical copolymers. Pure glycerin (25 wt %) induced crystallization followed by a reduced "Tm" of about 213 °C via DSC. However this composition did not melt process well. A lower MW (~35 kg/mol) copolymer did extrude with no apparent degradation. Our hypothesis is that the hydroxyl groups in glycerin (or water) disrupt the strong dipole-dipole interactions between the chains enabling the copolymer endothermic transition (Tm) to be reduced and enable melting before the onset of degradation. Additionally high molecular weight (Mw = 200-230 kg/mol) poly(acrylonitrile–co-methyl acrylate) copolymers with lower acrylonitrile content (82-85 wt %) were synthesized via emulsion copolymerization and successfully melt pressed. These materials will be further investigated for their utility in packaging applications.
Ph. D.

In this thesis, the morphology, crystallization and melting behavior of polypropylene copolymers (propylene/ethylene, propylene/1-butene, propylene/1-hexene and propylene/1-octene) has been examined. The multiple melting behavior has been correlated with the presence of alpha and gamma phases and with the occurrence of cross-hatching morphology. The Crystallization and melting behavior of propylene/ethylene and propylne/1-butene are qualitatively similar and compatible with the expectations that the ethylene and butene comonomers are partly included in the propylene lattice. Propylene/1-hexene and propylene/1-octene copolymers exhibit remarkably similar behavior and morphologies consistent with the expectations that the hexene and the octene comonomers are rigorously excluded from the crystal lattice. The origin and the crystallization time dependence of the multiple melting behavior is very different for these two pairs of copolymers. For PE and PB it is consistent with the melting of parent a-phase lamellae and alpha or gamma-phase daughter lamellae. For PH and PO copolymers it is very similar to that observed for ethylene-octene(EO) and ethylene-styrene(ES) copolymers and compatible with the melting of primary lamellae and secondary mosaic or fringed micellar structures.
Master of Science

De nouvelles matrices thermoplastiques à base de poly(méthacrylate de méthyle) (PMMA) pouvant entrer dans la composition de matériaux composites ont été synthétisées et caractérisées du point de vue de leur température de transition vitreuse (par calorimétrie différentielle à balayage) et de leur dégradation thermique (par analyse thermogravimétrique et par microcalorimétrie). La stratégie suivie était d’incorporer dans les chaînes de PMMA des unités de répétition comportant un groupement latéral phosphoré retardateur de flamme via une copolymérisation radicalaire du MMA avec un monomère phosphoré. Un ensemble de monomères phosphorés retardateurs de flamme ont été synthétisés à partir de l’oxyde de 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrène-10 (DOPO) en faisant varier la nature de la fonction polymérisable (styrénique, acrylique, méthacrylique), la nature de l’atome lié au phosphore (oxygène, carbone, azote) et la longueur du bras espaceur. Nous avons montré qu’en adaptant la structure et la quantité des unités de répétition phosphorées, la température de transition vitreuse du matériau était maintenue proche de celle du PMMA alors que la dégradation thermique des matériaux était déplacée vers de plus hautes températures. Comparativement les mélanges physiques de PMMA et de DOPO avec une même teneur en élément phosphore présentent une température de transition vitreuse significativement plus basse
Novel poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thermoplastic matrices which can be used in the elaboration of composite materials have been synthesized and characterized from the point of view of their glass transition temperature (by differential scanning calorimetry) and their thermal degradation (by thermogravimetric analysis and by pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry). The strategy followed was to incorporate in the PMMA chains repeat units comprising a flame retardant phosphorous side group via a radical copolymerization of MMA with a phosphorus-containing monomer. A set of phosphorus-containing flame retardant monomers has been synthesized from 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10 oxide (DOPO) by varying the nature of the polymerizable function (styrenic, acrylic, methacrylic), the nature of the atom bound to the phophore (oxygen, carbon, nitrogen) and the length of the spacer arm. We have shown that by adapting the structure and the quantity of the phosphorus repeating units, the glass transition temperature of the material was kept close to that of the PMMA while the thermal degradation of the materials was shifted to higher temperatures. Comparatively, physical blends of PMMA and DOPO with equivalent phosphorus contents exhibited significantly lower glass transition temperatures

Le dibenzoylméthane (DBM) a été étudié comme catalyseur pour la copolymérisation par ouverture de cycle du L-lactide (LA) et du ε-caprolactone (CL) amorcée par des alcools en masse à haute température. Des copolymères présentant des structures gradient à statistique ont été formés. L’étude cinétique a mis en évidence que le DBM est un faible activateur de bout de chaîne et de monomère, l’apparente accélération de la copolymérisation étant due à la formation in situ d’acides carboxyliques catalysant la réaction à leur tour. L’acide benzoïque (BA), un acide carboxylique faible, a ensuite été étudié pour les homopolymérisations par ouverture de cycle du LA et du CL amorcées par des alcools en masse à haute température. L’étude cinétique a mis en évidence un mécanisme bifonctionnel et une différence de réactivité des deux monomères en présence de BA validés par des calculs théoriques. Une gamme de copolymères statistiques présentant différentes compositions ont été synthétisés par copolymérisation par ouverture de cycle du LA et CL catalysé par BA et amorcé par différents alcools en masse à haute température. Finalement, plusieurs catalyseurs organiques ont été testés pour la copolymérisation du LA et CL
Dibenzoylmethane has been investigated as organocatalyst for the bulk ring-opening copolymerization (ROcP) of L-Lactide (LA) and ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated by alcohols at high temperature. Copolymer presenting a gradient to statistical structure has been generated. Kinetic study has pointed out that DBM is a poor chain end and monomer activator, the apparent acceleration of the ROcP process may be due to the in situ generation of carboxylic acids which can catalyze the reaction as well. Benzoic acid, a weak carboxylic acid, has then been investigated for the efficient bulk ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of LA and CL initiated by various alcohols at high temperature. The kinetic study has pointed out that LA and CL have different reactivity in presence of benzoic acid which acts as a bifunctional activator. The experimental results were supported by computational calculations. An array of statistical copolymer of varying LA/CL compositions have been synthesized by ROcP of LA and CL catalyzed by BA in presence of various alcohol as initiators in bulk at high temperature. Finally, miscellaneous organocatalysts have been tested for the ROcP of LA and CL

Nous avons étudié les propriétés structurales et rhéologiques de gels viscoélastiques de réseaux transitoires connectés et chargés par des nanoparticules de silice. Trois matrices viscoélastiques ont été préparées : deux microémulsions connectées possédant des gouttelettes de taille différente (30 et 100 Å) et un gel aqueux de copolymère tribloc. Les deux techniques de caractérisation employées sont la rhéologie et la diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles, ce qui nous a permis de relier les propriétés rhéologiques à la structure de ces réseaux chargés. Le facteur de renforcement rhéologique de ces gels est supérieur aux prévisions de Smallwood et d'Einstein appliquées respectivement aux élastomères et aux solutions colloïdales diluées. D'autre part, l'investigation de la structure menée par diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles montre des particules de silice bien dispersées dans la matrice. Une couche de tensioactifs est absorbée sur la surface de la silice dans le cas des microémulsions. Ce mécanisme mène à une augmentation du nombre de liens actifs par unité de volume en présence de nanoparticules. Macroscopiquement, cette augmentation permet d'expliquer le décalage du seuil de percolation.

Nous avons étudié les propriétés volumiques de copolymères diblocs neutres-chargés dissymétriques. Ces molécules sont composées d'une courte partie neutre de poly(éthylène propylène) (PEP) ou de poly(tert-butyl styrène) (PtBs), et d'une longue partie chargée (polyélectrolyte) poly(styrène sulfonate) sodium (PSSNa) de taux de sulfonation supérieur à 80. Des expériences de diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles et de diffusion quasi-élastique de la lumière ont montré que ces copolymères s'auto-assemblent en solution aqueuse en micelles sphériques : coeur composé de l'auto-association des parties neutres en mauvais solvant, duquel émergent les parties chargées en une grande couronne qui peut être vue comme une brosse polyélectrolyte en géométrie sphérique. La forme et la taille des coeurs hydrophobes ont été trouvées invariantes en fonction de la concentration en polymère et de la concentration en électrolyte ajouté (sel monovalent, NaCl). Cette invariance a permis de déterminer les facteurs de structure des solutions (images des interactions) : les interactions électrostatiques ordonnent les solutions même dans le régime dilué (régime sans contact entre micelles). Dans le régime dilué sans sel ajouté, les parties polyélectrolytes (composant la couronne micellaire) ont été trouvées avec une conformation étendue (quasi-bâtons). Avec du sel ajouté, cette conformation devient de plus en plus flexible dès que la concentration en sel est supérieure à la concentration interne en sel d'une micelle. Dans le régime concentré sans sel ajouté, l'apparition d'un pic polyélectrolyte aux petites échelles, typique de la formation d'un semi dilué de polyélectrolytes, a été mise en évidence. De manière surprenante, cet ordre polyélectrolyte coexiste avec l'ordre entre micelles. L'influence du nombre de chaîne par micelle (nombre d'agrégation) a été discutée. Avec du sel ajouté, le pic polyélectrolyte disparaît, tandis que les solutions restent ordonnées. La distribution des contre-ions a été étudiée par des expériences de diffusion de rayons x aux petits angles. Les contre-ions Na+ ont été remplacés par d'autres contre-ions (typiquement Cs+ et TMA+) par dialyse des solutions. Dans le cas des micelles de faible nombre d'agrégation, la distribution des contre-ions a été trouvée en accord avec la distribution donnée par l'équation de Poisson-Bolztmann autour d'un bâton. Dans le cas des micelles de grand nombre d'agrégation, une forte corrélation entre contre-ions, due au recouvrement des différents nuages, a été mise en évidence. Enfin, la concentration micellaire critique (concentration à partir de laquelle des micelles existent) et l'équilibre des solutions ont été étudiés par électrophorèse capillaire. Les résultats ne sont pas encore bien compris : il existe, quelle que soit la concentration en polymère, 20% de chaînes libres (non associées en micelles).

碩士
國立臺灣大學
化學學系
86
Series of Polymethylphenylsiloxane (PMPS)/Polydiphenylsiloxane (PDPS) statistical random copolymers with different PDPS content were synthesized through a living anionic copolymerization from hexaphenylcyclotrisiloxane (P3) and 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triphenylcyclotrisiloxaiie (D3Ph) in various solvent system, using n-butyllithium as initiator, and diphenylmediylchlorosilane as terminator. These copolymers were characterized by GPC and 1H-NMR. The monomer reactivity ratios of the D3Ph/P3 copolyinerization in various solvent system were estimated from Fineman-Ross equation. The monomer sequence of the copolymers was confirmed by the 1H-NMR and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the synthesized copolymers. The Tg and mesophase transition temperature (Tm) of these copolymers were determined by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC). The isotropic temperature (Ti) of the copolyiners were measured by the Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM). Basing upon DSC and POM results, the phase diagrams of these copolymers were established. The thermal stability (T10) of these copolymers were measured by Thermogravimetry Analysis (TGA).

Kam-Hung Low.
Thesis submitted in: December 2003.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
Table of contents --- p.i.
Acknowledgements --- p.vi.
Abbreviations --- p.vii.
Abstract --- p.viii.
Abstract (Chinese) --- p.x.
Chapter Part I --- Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorene-Based Statistical Copolymers
Chapter Chapter I --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter 1. --- Background --- p.1
Chapter 2. --- rinciple of Electroluminescence --- p.2
Chapter 3. --- Electroluminescence from conjugatedolymers --- p.4
Chapter 4. --- Device configurations --- p.6
Chapter 4.1 --- Electrodes selection --- p.8
Chapter 4.2 --- Charge injection and transporting layers --- p.9
Chapter 5. --- Device characterizations --- p.12
Chapter 6. --- Blue-light emittingolymers --- p.14
Chapter 6.1 --- Fluorene homopolymers --- p.16
Chapter 6.2 --- Fluorene copolymers --- p.19
Chapter 6.3 --- Aggregation studies ofolyfluorenes --- p.22
Chapter 7. --- Synthetic measures toward conjugatedolymers --- p.28
Chapter Chapter II --- Results and discussion --- p.30
Chapter 1. --- Synthesis --- p.30
Chapter 1.1 --- olyfluorene synthesis --- p.30
Chapter 1.2 --- Fluorene-based statistical copolymers --- p.34
Chapter 1.2.1 --- Fluorene-biphenyl copolymers --- p.34
Chapter 1.2.2 --- Fluorene-［2.2]paracyclophane copolymers --- p.37
Chapter 2. --- Structural characterizations --- p.40
Chapter 2.1 --- NMR spectroscopic data analyses --- p.40
Chapter 2.2 --- Gelermeation chromatographic analyses --- p.44
Chapter 2.3 --- Thermal analyses --- p.47
Chapter 3. --- Opticalroperties characterizations --- p.50
Chapter 3.1 --- UV-visible absorptions --- p.50
Chapter 3.2 --- hotoluminescences --- p.53
Chapter 3.2.1 --- hotoluminescences in solutions --- p.53
Chapter 3.2.2 --- hotoluminescences in solid thin films --- p.59
Chapter 4. --- Device fabrications --- p.61
Chapter 5. --- I-V characterizations --- p.64
Chapter 6. --- Electroluminescences --- p.66
Chapter Chapter III --- Conclusion --- p.68
Chapter Chapter IV --- Experimental --- p.70
Reference --- p.77
Appendix NMR spectra --- p.82
Chapter Part II --- Regio-Specific Synthesis of Functionalized [2.2]PARACYCLOPHANES
Chapter Chapter I --- Introduction --- p.102
Chapter 1. --- Background --- p.102
Chapter 2. --- Synthetic Route to [2.2]Paracyclophane --- p.103
Chapter 2.1 --- Macrocyclization via Wurtz coupling --- p.103
Chapter 2.2 --- Extrusion of small gaseous molecules form macrocyclicrecursors --- p.106
Chapter 2.3 --- Dimerization of/p-xylylene --- p.108
Chapter 2.4 --- Miscellaneous methods --- p.110
Chapter 3. --- Synthetic Routes to Substituted [2.2]Paracyclophanes --- p.111
Chapter 3.1. --- Functionalization of [2.2]pracyclophane --- p.114
Chapter 3.1.1 --- reparation of mono-substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes --- p.114
Chapter 3.1.2 --- reparation of di-substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes --- p.117
Chapter 3.1.3 --- reparation of tri-substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes --- p.120
Chapter 3.1.4 --- reparation of tetra-substituted [2.2]paracyclophanes --- p.120
Chapter 3.1.5 --- Functional group conversions in [2.2]paracyclophanes --- p.121
Chapter Chapter II --- Syntheticlans --- p.124
Chapter Chapter III --- Results and Discussion --- p.129
Chapter 1. --- Effect ofolymerization inhibitor --- p.130
Chapter 2. --- "Synthesis of 4,12-disbstituted [2.2]paracyclophanes" --- p.132
Chapter 2.1 --- "Synthesis of 4,12-dibromo[2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.132
Chapter 2.2 --- "Synthesis of 4,12-dichloro[2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.134
Chapter 2.3 --- "Synthesis of 4,12-dimethyl[2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.135
Chapter 3. --- "Synthesis of 4,7,13,16-tetrasubstituted [2.2]paracyclophanes" --- p.137
Chapter 3.1 --- "Synthesis of 4,7,13,16-tetrabromo[2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.137
Chapter 3.2 --- "Synthesis of 4,7,13,16-tetrabromo[2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.138
Chapter 4. --- "Synthesis of 4,8,12,16-tetrasubstituted [2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.139
Chapter 4.1 --- "Synthesis of 4,8,12,16-tetrabromo[2.2]paracyclophane" --- p.139
Chapter 5. --- Summary --- p.141
Chapter Chapter IV --- Conclusion --- p.145
Chapter Chapter V --- Experimental --- p.146
References --- p.160
Appendix I X-ray crystallographic data --- p.162
Appendix II NMR spectra --- p.183

Hydrogels containing of 2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, DMAEMA, exhibit changes in their swelling properties in response to both pH and temperature. Accordingly, these materials are useful for a variety of applications, such as tissue scaffolds, responsive lenses, separations and drug delivery. The response of DMAEMAcontaining hydrogels can be tuned by copolymerization with other monomers, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, HEMA. We have developed methodologies for the controlled synthesis of poly(HEMAco-DMAEMA), PHD, statistical copolymers with uniform composition distributions, controlled molecular weights, and narrow molecular weight distributions using controlled free-radical polymerization techniques, such as atom transfer radical polymerization and radical addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. We have also investigated the controlled synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic block copolymers containing PHD statistical copolymers. These block copolymers microphase separate to form periodic nanostructures such as alternating lamellae, cylinders on a hexagonal lattice, or spheres on a body-centered cubic lattice, depending on the volume fraction of each block, the interblock segregation strength, and the choice of casting solvent. When swollen with water, these microphase-separated PHD-containing block copolymers form model hydrogels with uniform composition distributions. Model block copolymer hydrogels containing PHD statistical copolymers are responsive to changes in pH or temperature. The response of these model block copolymer hydrogels can be tuned by adjusting of the DMAEMA content within the PHD block. Moreover, the response can be tuned by changing the hydrophobic block. Specifically, the use of a glassy hydrophobic block, such as polystyrene or poly(tert-butyl acrylate) at temperatures below its glass transition temperature, resulted in the preservation of the original block copolymer morphology during swelling. In contrast, the use of a hydrophobic block that is rubbery during swelling, such as poly(methyl acrylate), enabled reversible morphological transformations.
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Στην παρούσα Διδακτορική Διατριβή σχεδιάστηκαν και συντέθηκαν με πολυμερισμό μέσω μεταφοράς ομάδας (group transfer polymerization, GTP) τέσσερα νέα πρότυπα “ευφυή” υδατοδιαλυτά συμπολυμερή, τα οποία αυτοοργανώνονται σε υδατικά διαλύματα σε δομές μικκυλίων ή ελαστικού φυσικού δικτύου, αποκρινόμενα άμεσα σε μεταβολές του pH, της θερμοκρασίας και της ιοντικής ισχύος του διαλύματος. Η καινοτομία των πολυμερών που συντέθηκαν οφείλεται στο γεγονός ότι σε ένα συσταδικό συμπολυμερές ενσωματώθηκε μία στατιστική συστάδα, η οποία παρουσιάζει ιδιότητες που είναι συνδυασμός των ιδιοτήτων των μονομερών που την αποτελούν. Ο γενικός τύπος των πολυμερών που μελετήθηκαν είναι A-b-(B-co-C) και A-b-(B-co-C)-b-A. Η συστάδα Α μπορούσε να είναι υδρόφιλη ή υδρόφοβη ενώ η στατιστική συστάδα ήταν είτε ένας πολυαμφολύτης με ρυθμιζόμενο ισοηλεκτρικό σημείο (ΙΗΣ), είτε μια υδρόφιλη συστάδα με ρυθμιζόμενη κατώτερη κρίσιμη θερμοκρασία διάλυσης (LCST). Ο πολυαμφολύτης φορτίζεται θετικά σε όξινα διαλύματα, καθίσταται ουδέτερος στο ισοηλεκτρικό του σημείο και τέλος φορτίζεται αρνητικά σε διαλύματα με υψηλό pH.  Συμπολυμερή του τύπου A-b-(B-co-C) Συντέθηκαν τρία διαφορετικά συμπολυμερή αυτού του τύπου: Στην πρώτη περίπτωση η συστάδα Α είναι το υδρόφοβο PMMA και η στατιστική συστάδα είναι ο πολυαμφολύτης P(DEA-co-MAA). Το πολυμερές PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA) σχηματίζει μικκύλια σε υδατικά διαλύματα με τη συστάδα PMMA στον πυρήνα και τη στατιστική συστάδα στην κορώνα να είναι είτε θετικά φορτισμένη σε χαμηλό pH είτε αρνητικά φορτισμένη σε υψηλό pH. Στο ΙΗΣ του πολυαμφολύτη το πολυμερές συσσωματώνεται και καθιζάνει. Εμπνεόμενοι από τη δομή των μικκυλιακών συσσωματωμάτων συντέθηκε το επαμφοτερίζον αστεροειδές πολυμερές [PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA)]n, το οποίο δημιουργεί μονομοριακά μικκύλια με πυρήνα PMMA και κορόνα που αλλάζει φορτίο ανάλογα με το pH του διαλύματος. Στη δεύτερη περίπτωση η στατιστική συστάδα παραμένει o πολυαμφολύτης P(DEA-co-MAA) και η συστάδα Α είναι το υδρόφιλο PEGMA, το οποίο παρουσιάζει LCST και σε υδατικά διαλύματα του πολυμερούς σχηματίζονται τρία είδη μικκυλίων. Στο ΙΗΣ και σε θερμοκρασία δωματίου σχηματίζονται μικκύλια με τη συστάδα P(DEA-co-MAA) στον πυρήνα και την υδρόφιλη συστάδα PEGMA στην κορώνα. Ωστόσο σε θεμρμοκρασία μεγαλύτερη από την LCST και σε pH εκτός της περιοχής του ΙΗΣ του πολυαμφολύτη, η συστάδα PEGMA συρρικνώνεται, οπότε δημιουργούνται μυκκίλια με πυρήνα τη συστάδα PEGMA και κορώνα τη συστάδα P(DEA-co-MAA). Σε χαμηλό pH η κορώνα είναι θετικά φορτισμένη, ενώ σε υψηλό είναι αρνητικά φορτισμένη. Τέλος στο τρίτο πολυμερές η στατιστική συστάδα αποτελείται από ένα υδρόφιλο και ένα υδρόφοβο μονομερές P(EGMA-co-MMA) και η LCST της συστάδας αυτής μειώνεται με αύξηση του ποσοστού του υδρόφοβου μονομερούς. Ο συνδιασμός μιας τέτοιας συστάδας και μιας συστάδας κατιονικού πολυηλεκτρολύτη (PDEA) σε ένα δισυσταδικό συμπολυμερές οδηγει σε ένα υλικό με πλούσιες ιδιότητες επηρεαζόμενες από τη θερμοκρασία και το pH. Σε χαμηλές θερμοκρασίες και όξινο περιβάλλον είναι μοριακά διαλυτό, αφού και οι δύο συστάδες είναι υδρόφιλες. Με αύξηση του pH ή της θερμοκρασίας συμπολυμερές αυτο-οργανώνεται αυτόματα σε δύο διαφορετικά μικκυλιακά συσσωματώματα με τον πυρήνα και την κορώνα να εναλλάσσονται μεταξύ τους (“σχιζοφρενική” συμπεριφορά). Τέλος με ταυτόχρονη αύξηση του pH και της θερμοκρασίας το συμπολυμερές καταβυθίζεται.  Συμπολυμερή του τύπου A-b-(B-co-C)-b-A Με βάση το πολυμερές PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA) συντέθηκε ο τηλεχηλικός πολυαμφολύτης PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA)-b-PMMA. Σε διαλύματα του πολυμερούς και σε pΗ έξω από την περιοχή του ΙΗΣ του πολυαμφολύτη, δημιουργούνται συσσωματώματα πεπερασμένου μεγέθους (στην ημιαραιή περιοχή συγκεντρώσεων), ενώ σε πυκνά διαλύματα σχηματίζεται άπειρο φυσικό δίκτυο. Υδατοπηκτώματα του πολυμερούς είναι δυνατό να δημιουργηθούν και από διόγκωση πολυμερικών φιλμ με απορρόφηση ύδατος. Το δίκτυο που σχηματίζεται έχει ελαστική συμπεριφορά τόσο σε χαμηλό όσο και σε υψηλό pH.
In the present thesis four new model and “smart” water-soluble copolymers were designed and synthesized via the group transfer polymerization method. These copolymers self-assemble in aqueous solutions into micelles or elastically physical network (depending on the copolymer architecture), responding readily to changes of the external stimuli such as pH, temperature and ionic strength. The innovation of these polymers is due to the fact that a block copolymer incorporates a statistical block, the physicochemical properties of which, result from combination of the properties of the structural monomers. These copolymers had general type A-b-(B-co-C) or A-b-(B-co-C)-b-A. The homopolymer block A could be either hydrophilic (neutral or cationic) or hydrophobic, while the statistical block (B-co-C) was either a polyampholyte with tunable isoelectric point (IEP), or a hydrophilic block with tunable lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The polyampholyte block could be positively charged in acidic conditions and negatively charged in basic conditions, while at the IEP became neutral.  Copolymers of the type A-b-(B-co-C) Three different copolymers of the type A-b-(B-co-C) were synthesized. In the first case block A was the hydrophobic PMMA and the statistical block was the polyampholyte P(DEA-co-MAA). When the copolymer PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA) was dissolved in aqueous media, spherical micelles with PMMA core and P(DEA-co-MAA) corona were formed at room temperature and at pH out of the IEP region. At the IEP the copolymer precipitated from the solution due to the neutralization of the statistical polyampholyte block. Inspired by the morphology of the micelles formed by the linear copolymer PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA), the star amphoteric copolymer was synthesized [PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA)]n, which forms unimolecular PMMA-core micelles and corona that changes the charge sign upon changing the solution pH. In the second case the statistical block was the same as above, while the homopolymer block consisted of the hydrophilic PEGMA, which exhibits LCST and becomes hydrophobic above it. Due to the double sensitivity of this copolymer to pH and temperature, three types of micelles were formed in aqueous solutions. At the IEP and room temperature neutral-corona micelles were formed, at which the core consisted of the statistical P(DEA-co-MAA) block. Multimolecular association took place also at temperatures above LCST of the PEGMA block and at pH below and above the IEP of the polyampholyte Block. In the latter cases PEGMA block formed the core of the micelles. Finally, in the third copolymer the statistical block P(EGMA-co-MMA) consisted of one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic monomer and its LCST was reduced by increasing the MMA content. The combination of this block with the weak cationic polyelectrolyte PDEA block resulted in a double hydrophilic, double-responsive polymeric system. At ambient temperature and acidic environment the P(EGMA-co-MMA)-b-PDEA copolymer was molecularly dissolved. By increasing either the pH or the temperature of the solution, “schizophrenic” PDEA-core or P(EGMA-co-MMA)-core micelles were formed, respectively. With simultaneous increment oh pH and temperature the copolymer precipitated.  Copolymers of the type A-b-(B-co-C)-b-A Inspired by the copolymer PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA), the triblock telechelic polyampholyte PMMA-b-P(DEA-co-MAA)-b-A was prepared. Physical networks of this copolymer were formed at pH values out of the isoelectric point (IEP) region of the polyampholyte block. The hydrogel was formed by water absorbion of a dry polymer film and exhibited elastic behavior at acidic as well as at basic conditions. Finally in the semi-dilute regime a large number of polymer chains incorporated to form finite size clusters. These aggregates increased their size by increasing the ionization degree of the polymer chain, as a result of the electrostatic repulsive forces between the charged monomer units.