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Estimation of copolymer/water interfacial tensions using pendant drop tensiometry

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 19:50 authored by Jasinski, F, Alkhater, A, Stuart ThickettStuart Thickett, Brinkhuis, RH, Zetterlund, PB
Copolymer/water interfacial tensions of statistical copolymers of styrene/n-butyl acrylate were estimated by pendant drop tensiometry using an “inverse” configuration according to which a drop of water was formed in toluene/copolymer solutions. The study first involved the precise measurement of copolymer solutions density using pycnometry. Subsequently, interfacial tensions of copolymer solutions against water were plotted as a function of copolymer concentration in toluene. Several methods were explored to fit the experimental data and obtain estimates of copolymer/water interfacial tensions at 100% copolymer concentration in toluene by extrapolation. The Belton−Evans extrapolation resulted in the best fit with the experimental data. When plotted as a function of the styrene composition of the copolymer, the interfacial tensions estimates followed an additivity relationship. This enabled estimation of the copolymer/water interfacial tensions directly from their respective homopolymer/water interfacial tensions values. These results are particularly useful for the prediction of composite particle morphology involving copolymerization of multiple monomers.

Funding

Australian Research Council

History

Publication title

Langmuir

Volume

34

Issue

23

Pagination

6835-6843

ISSN

0743-7463

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Amer Chemical Soc

Place of publication

1155 16Th St, Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20036

Rights statement

Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences