Dual-Functional Emulsifying/Antifogging Coumarin-Containing Polymeric Micelle

Abstract

Dual-functional emulsifying/antifogging polymeric micelles have been prepared by the self-assembly of poly­(2-(dimethylamino)­ethyl methacrylate-<i>co</i>-methyl methacrylate-<i>co</i>-7-acryloxy-4-methylcoumarin) P­(DMAEMA-<i>co</i>-MMA-<i>co</i>-AOM). On one hand, the polymeric micelles have spherical morphology and exhibit triple responsive behaviors. The sample with the DMAEMA/MMA/AOM molar ratio of 5/3/3 (T2) is chosen to investigate the influence of pH on the emulsifying performance, and the configuration of polymeric micelles on the oil/water interface is investigated. The amount of micelles arranged on the surface of solidified polymerized beads gradually decreases as the pH changes from 12 to 5, and then total phase separation and demulsification occur at pH 3. On the other hand, we prepare an effective antifogging coating by forming an interchain network (ICN) resulting from self-assembled micelles and photo-cross-linked coumarin units. The ICN-T2 coating can not only absorb water vapor rapidly but also avoid excessive swelling of the amphiphilic terpolymer, thus leading to excellent antifogging performance. To the best of our knowledge, the photo-cross-linkable coumarin derivative is first introduced into an antifogging polymer coating at the molecular level, successfully avoiding the use of chemical cross-linking agents. The coumarin-containing polymeric micelle may be applied in many industrial processes and will provide new insight into the interface or surface property of macromolecular materials