Quantitative Measurements of Polymer Hydrophobicity Based on Functional Group Identity and Oligomer Length
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
11-13-2018
Abstract
A combined experimental and computational investigation revealed a hydrophobicity trend for oxygen-containing functional groups commonly encountered in monomers and polymers. Based on solvatochromatic dye experiments, HPLC retention times, and theoretical LogP values, the arrangement of the three oxygen atoms in carbonates results in more hydrophobicity than other permutations like anhydrides. Another trend emerged for functional groups with two oxygen atoms (acetals > esters). Overall, when comparing aliphatic polymers with similarly sized monomers, hydrophobicity decreased as follows: carbonates > acetals > esters > anhydrides. These trends have important implications for degradation, conductivity, and many other applications.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Macromolecules
Volume
51
Issue
21
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Dharmaratne, Nayanthara U., Terra Marie M. Jouaneh, Matthew K. Kiesewetter, and Robert T. Mathers. "Quantitative Measurements of Polymer Hydrophobicity Based on Functional Group Identity and Oligomer Length." Macromolecules 51, 21 (2018): 8461-8468. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01747.