Next-Generation Random Copolymer Surfactants

我们最近发现，亲水性和疏水性（甲基）丙烯酸单体的二元混合物的统计共聚产生高度表面活性的无规共聚物。这些大分子表面活性剂可以稳定基本上非水泡沫（例如70-80%乙醇+10-20%水），因此应该作为下一代无硅酮表面活性剂用于洗手液配方。通过这个博士生奖学金，我们打算解决以下问题。1.丙烯酸共聚物比甲基丙烯酸共聚物性能更好吗？2.长期泡沫稳定性的最佳亲水-疏水平衡（HLB）是多少？3.哪一对亲水性和疏水性共聚单体最适合用于此类配方？4.最佳共聚物分子量是多少？5.最大固体含量是多少（例如50% w/w？）这些共聚可以在什么条件下进行？6.长寿命泡沫的最佳共聚物浓度是多少？7.我们能设计水解降解共聚物表面活性剂吗？8.我们能否建立合成-结构-性质的关系，使进一步微调的表面活性？9.这些无规共聚物表面活性剂是否优于同等的嵌段共聚物表面活性剂？10.这些共聚物表面活性剂是否适用于特定应用，例如洗手液配方、聚氨酯泡沫稳定剂、无氟灭火器泡沫等

We have recently discovered that the statistical copolymerisation of a binary mixture of a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic (meth)acrylic monomer produces highly surface-active random copolymers. These macromolecular surfactants can stabilise substantially non-aqueous foams (e.g. 70-80% ethanol + 10-20% water) and hence should find applications as next-generation silicone-free surfactants for hand sanitiser formulations. With this PhD studentship, we intend to address the following questions. 1. Do acrylic copolymers perform better than methacrylic copolymers? 2. What is the optimum hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance (HLB) for long-term foam stability? 3. Which is the best pair of hydrophilic and hydrophobic comonomers to use in such formulations? 4. What is the optimum copolymer molecular weight? 5. What is the maximum solids content (e.g. 50% w/w?) at which these copolymerisations can be performed? 6. What is the optimum copolymer concentration for long-lived foams? 7. Can we design hydrolytically-degradable copolymer surfactants? 8. Can we establish synthesis-structure-property relationships that enable further fine-tuning of the surface activity? 9. Do these random copolymer surfactants outperform the equivalent block copolymer surfactants? 10. Are these copolymer surfactants suitable for specific applications, e.g. hand sanitiser formulations, polyurethane foam stabilisation, fluorine-free fire extinguisher foams, etc