Polymerisation of liquid crystalline phases in binary surfactant/water systems

The self-assembly behaviour of the polymerisable surfactant -undecenyltrimethylammonium bromide (-UTAB) both before and after polymerisation has been investigated. In addition polymerisation of the liquid crystalline phases formed by this surfactant in aqueous solution has been studied. Introduction of the carbon-carbon double bond at the end of the hydrocarbon chain increases the rigidity of the paraffinic chains such that the Krafft curve is shifted to higher temperatures compared with that of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, a nonpolymerisable analogue. Both the polymerised and non-polymerised forms have been observed to have the same phase progression, with the polymer being more soluble in water such that the liquid crystalline phases formed at high surfactant concentration are accessible at room temperature. Polymerisation of the liquid crystalline phases of -UTAB indicate that polymerisation proceeds to approximately 40% (in comparison) with 80% in a non-aggregated form) and that the original monomeric matrix is undisturbed upon partial polymerisation.