Synthesis and characterization of telechelic polymers obtained by micellar polymerization

Summary The synthesis, characterization and rheological properties in aqueous solution of two telechelic polymers of different structures and size are reported: they are water soluble polyacrylamides, hydrophobically modified with linear and di-substituted hydrophobic initiators. The polymers were prepared via free radical micellar polymerization. The results of static light scattering (SLS), showed similar weight-average molecular weights (M_w) in all of the synthesized polymers. No signal corresponding to the presence of the hydrophobic group of the initiator could be observed by ¹H NMR; however, the presence of these hydrophobic groups was demonstrated using rheological measurements.