Hydrocarbon-Based Statistical Copolymers Outperform Block Copolymers for Stabilization of Ethanol-Water Foams.

ABSTRACT: Well-defined block copolymers have been widely used as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and dispersants in the chemical industry for at least 50 years. In contrast, nature employs amphiphilic proteins as polymeric surfactants whereby the spatial distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids within the polypeptide chains is optimized for surface activity. Herein, we report that polydisperse statistical copolymers prepared by conventional free-radical copolymerization can provide superior foaming performance compared to the analogous diblock copolymers. A series of predominantly (meth)acrylic comonomers are screened to identify optimal surface activity for foam stabilization of aqueous ethanol solutions. In particular, all-acrylic statistical copolymers comprising trimethylhexyl acrylate

SUBMITTER: Jennings J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9437873 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature