Synthesis and aqueous solution properties of hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide

Hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) is synthesized by a free radical micellar polymerization method with low amounts of anionic long-chain alkyl, sodium 9-(and 10)-acrylamidostearate (NaAAS), which is derived from a renewable resource material, oleic acid. In this progress, the molar ratio of Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to NaAAS is adjusted, so polymers with different lengths of the hydrophobic blocks (NH = 3 and NH = 6) are obtained. The copolymers are characterized by 1H NMR, and the polymer weight and polydispersity are determined by gel permeation chromatography. The solution behaviors of the copolymers are studied as functions of concentrations, pH, and added electrolytes by steady-flow and oscillatory experiments. The viscosities of these HMPAMs increase enormously above the critical concentration (c*). The sample with longer hydrophobic blocks exhibits better thickening effect. The rheological behaviors of aqueous solutions of HMPAMs are also investigated at different pH and brine environments. Low pH or the presence of brine promotes the intramolecular associating of hydrophobes for the both copolymers in semidilute solutions. The introduction of ionizable carboxylic group on the long hydrophobic side chain significantly influences the aggregation behaviors of the copolymers, leading to unique solution behaviors of the poly(AAm/NaAAS) copolymers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40754.