Use of a switchable hydrophobic associative polymer to create an aqueous solution of CO2-switchable viscosity

Abstract

We synthesized a new four-armed star-like hydrophobic associative polymer containing polyacrylamide core sections and poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate) CO₂-switchable chain ends. The aqueous solution of the polymer is viscous due to formation of a network structure in the absence of CO₂ but nonviscous in its presence. The viscosity also is enhanced with increasing concentration of NaCl.