On the nature of volume-phase transitions in photo-cross-linked poly(cyclopropylacrylamide) and poly(N-vinylisobutyramide) coatings

Abstract

Ellipsometry in an inverted configuration was used to characterize the temperature-dependent swelling of thin (100 nm) coatings of photo-cross-linked poly(cyclopropylacrylamide), or poly(CPAAm), and poly(vinylisobutyramide), or poly(NVIBAm). Both polymers contained 3 mole % of methacroylaminobenzophenone (MnBP) as the photo-cross-linking unit. Poly(CPAAm-co-MnBP) showed a continuous, 2nd order deswelling transition between 10 and 70 oC with no hysteresis. Poly(NVIBAm), on the other hand showed a discontinuous, 1st order deswelling transition at 45 oC with a hysteresis in the swelling curve. The differences in the swelling transitions can be interpreted within the context of the cloud-point measurements of the uncross-linked polymers. Whereas poly(NVIBAm-co-MnBP) has a significant off-zero critical point (>10 wt% polymer) at 36oC, poly(CPAAm-co-MnBP) has a critical point at zero concentration and 23 oC. Concurrent measurements of the infrared vibrations of the amide groups in both polymers further revealed that the amide group in poly(CPAAm-co-MnBP) maintains a constant hydrogen-bonding environment throughout the volume-phase transition. Poly(NVIBAm-co-MnBP), on the other hand, has a concentration dependent hydrogen bonding environment around the carbonyl group, which is consistent with an off-zero concentration in the cloud point curve.