Characterization, solution behavior, and microstructure of a hydrophobically associating nonionic copolymer

To obtain an oil-displacement polymer with good thermal stability and solution properties, self-assembling acrylamide (AM)/4-butylstyrene (BST) copolymers (PSA) were synthesized by the micellar copolymerization technique. The resulting polymer was characterized by elemental analysis and UV and FT-IR spectroscopy. Conventional DSC measurement was used successfully to characterize the hydrophobic microblock structure of PSA, and two glass transition temperatures were found in the polymer: at 203 degrees C for the AM segments and at 106 degrees C for the hydrophobic BST segments. The initial decomposition temperature (234 degrees C) of the polymer is higher than that of polyacrylamide (210 degrees C). The DSC and TG results suggest that incorporation of BST into PSA enhances the molecular rigidity and thermal stability of the polymer. The apparent viscosity of a PSA solution greatly depends on the amount of BST in the polymer, and the polymer exhibits salt-thickening, temperature-thickening, thixotropy, pseudo-plastic behavior, anti shearing, and good anti-aging properties at 80 degrees C. In addition, the apparent viscosities of PSA solutions are increased remarkably by the addition of a small amount of surfactant. AFM measurements show that large block-like aggregates and small compact aggregates are formed in aqueous solutions of 0.4 g.dL(-1) PSA because of strong intermolecular hydrophobic associations, despite the low molecular weight, and their sizes increase upon addition of a small amount of salt.