Solution Properties of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)

Abstract Aqueous solutions of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) show a lower critical solution temperature. The thermodynamic properties of the system have been evaluated from the phase diagram and the heat absorbed during phase separation and the phenomenon is ascribed to be primarily due to an entropy effect. From viscosity, sedimentation, and light-scattering studies of solutions close to conditions of phase separation, it appears that aggregation due to formation of nonpolar and intermolecular hydrogen bonds is important. In addition, a weakening of the ordering effect of the water-amide hydrogen bonds as the temperature is raised contributes to the stability of the two-phase system.