Leif Karlson

Temperature responsive surface layers of modified celluloses

The temperature-dependent properties of pre-adsorbed layers of methylcellulose (MC) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) were investigated on silica and hydrophobized silica surfaces. Three different techniques, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy imaging, were used, providing complementary and concise information on the structure, mass and viscoelastic properties of the polymer layer. Adsorption was conducted at 25 °C, followed by a rinsing step. The properties of such pre-adsorbed layers were determined as a function of temperature in the range 25 °C to 50 °C. It was found that the layers became more compact with increasing temperature and that this effect was reversible, when decreasing the temperature. The compaction was more prominent for MC, as shown in the AFM images and in the thickness data derived from the QCM analysis. This is consistent with the fact that the phase transition temperature is lower, in the vicinity of 50 °C, for MC than for HPMC. The water content of the adsorbed layers was found to be high, even at the highest temperature, 50 °C, explored in this investigation.

Clouding of a cationic hydrophobically associating comb polymer

A novel cationic hydrophobically associating comb polymer, containing poly(oxyethylene) chains in the back-bone, is described and investigated with respect to the aqueous solubility by cloud point measurements. Cloud points were investigated as a function of polymer charge, poly(oxyethylene) chain length and concentrations of added NaCl and could be interpreted in terms of the aqueous behavior of poly(oxyethylene) chains, general electrostatic effects, salting-out effects for nonionic polymer chains and polymer association

Temperature-Dependent Competition between Adsorption and Aggregation of a Cellulose Ether-Simultaneous Use of Optical and Acoustical Techniques for Investigating Surface Properties

Adsorption of the temperature-responsive polymer hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) from an aqueous solution onto hydrophobized silica was followed well above the bulk instability temperature (T(2)) in temperature cycle experiments. Two complementary techniques, QCM-D and ellipsometry, were utilized simultaneously to probe the same substrate immersed in polymer solution. The interfacial processes were correlated with changes in polymer aggregation and viscosity of polymer solutions, as monitored by light scattering and rheological measurements. The simultaneous use of ellipsometry and QCM-D, and the possibility to follow layer properties up to 80 °C, well above the T(2) temperature, are both novel developments. A moderate increase in adsorbed amount with temperature was found below T(2), whereas a significant increase in the adsorbed mass and changes in layer properties were observed around the T(2) temperature where the bulk viscosity increases significantly. Thus, there is a clear correlation between transition temperatures in the adsorbed layer and in bulk solution, and we discuss this in relation to a newly proposed model that considers competition between aggregation and adsorption/deposition. A much larger temperature response above the T(2) temperature was found for adsorbed layers of HPMC than for layers of methyl cellulose. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Complex formed in the system hydrophobically modified polyethylene glycol/methylated alpha-cyclodextrin/water. An NMR diffusometry study

In aqueous solutions hydrophobically modified polyethylene glycol (HM-PEG) forms a transient polymer network held together by intermolecular hydrophobic associations. In the present investigation we have used NMR-diffusometry to study how the addition of methylated alpha-cyclodextrin (M-alpha-CD) influences the polymer network. The addit on of M-alpha-CD resulted in an increased mean self-diffusion of HM-PEG, DHM-PEG, which is referred to a degradation of the polymer network when hydrophobic associations are disrupted due to complex formation between the hydrophobic groups of HM-PEG and M-alpha-CD. Addition of small amounts of M-alpha-CD results in a dramatic increase in DHM-PEG. Upon further addition of M-a-CD the increase in DHM-PEG is less dramatic and at excess M-alpha-CD, DHM-PEG levels off and equals the mean self-diffusion coefficient for unmodified PEG with the same molecular weight. The suggested interpretation is that the addition of the first molecules of M-alpha-CD mainly reduces the probability for hydrophobic associations inter-connecting different clusters of polymer micelles whereas at higher M-alpha-CD concentrations a disengagement of the individual clusters into separate HM-PEG molecules becomes important

Chain-Length Shortening of Methyl Ethyl Hydroxyethyl Cellulose: An Evaluation of the Material Properties and Effect on Foaming Ability

During the past century, plastics have become a natural element in our every-day life. Lately however, an awareness about the fossil origin and often non-degradable nature of many plastics is rising. This has resulted in the emergence of some bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics, often produced from renewable resources. One possible candidate for bioplastics production could be found in cellulose. This paper aims at contributing information regarding a cellulose derivative, which could possibly be used in foamed plastics applications. Therefore, the reduction of the chain-length of a methyl ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (MEHEC), assessed by size exclusion chromatography, and the effect of chain-length on the foaming behaviour were studied. The foaming was accomplished with a hot-mould technique using aqueous polymer solutions. The generated steam was here used as the blowing agent and important parameters were polymer concentration and solution viscosity. The density of the produced foams was assessed and was in some cases comparable to that of commodity foams. It was found that reducing the chain-length enabled an increase of the initial polymer concentration for the foaming process. This is believed to be beneficial for creating more structurally stable foams of this type.