HYDROPHOBICALLY-MODIFIED ZWITTERIONIC POLYMERS - SYNTHESIS, BULK PROPERTIES, AND MISCIBILITY WITH INORGANIC SALTS

A series of new poly(sulfobetaines) has been synthesized and characterized in bulk. Appropriate substitution enables the preparation of polymers with high ion contents and still accessible glass transitions. The hydrophobic alkyl chains incorporated induce microphase separation, resulting in superstructures whose detailed forms depend on the polymer geomergy. All polymers are miscible in bulk with selected salts such as NaI in stoichiometric amounts, or even beyond. However, miscibility with inorganic salts in large amounts is not a general feature but depends both on the salt chosen and on the polymer structure. Some rules for successful mixing are established. The organic polymer-inorganic salt blends exhibit modified superstructures and glass transitions.