Aggregation Behavior of PEO-PPO-PEO Tri-Block Copolymer (Pluronic®L64) in Nonionic Surfactant Additives Environment

Studies of the interaction between water soluble PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers (Pluronic (R) polymers) and ionic/nonionic surfactants are of significant interest because the polymer-surfactant mixtures are used widely in industrial and domestic formulations. The aggregation behavior of Pluronic (R) L64, EO13PO30EO13, in absence and presence of conventional nonionics (PEG1500, Tween80, Brij98) and block copolymeric nonionics (F68, F127, P123) was investigated by cloud point, surface tension, viscosity and UV-Visible spectroscopic measurements. Most of the studied nonionic surfactants increase the CP of Pluronic (R) L64 through the formation of mixed micelles of L64 and nonionics, respectively. Only PEG1500 have decreased the CPs of Pluronic (R) L64. In present study, the effects of PEG1500 and copolymeric F127 on aggregation behavior of Pluronic (R) L64 were studied. The surface parameters of adsorption and micellization for Pluronic (R) L64 and its mixtures with nonionics were also determined. Newer way, Indian solid gold, curcumin has been used to study the interaction between Pluronic (R) L64 and nonionic surfactants. Results confirmed that Pluronic (R) L64 interacts with copolymeric F127 through formation of mixed micelles between them, and conventional PEG1500 only increased the polarity of the medium and no noticeable interaction or formation of mixed micelles was observed.