Abstract: | Flurocarbon-modified hydrophobically associating terpolymers have been prepared via copolymerization of acrylamide (AM), acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DMAEA-Q) and a small amount of flurocarbon-containing acrylate (RFA) as a hydrophobic third monomer. Three series of terpolymers (AM/DMAEA/Q molar ratio 70/30, 50/50 and 30/70 with various amounts of RFA) were synthesized and the rheological properties of terpolymer solutions were studied. A pronounced hydrophobic association between the fluorocarbon groups in the terpolymer's solutions was observed. The solutions showed pseudoplastic behavior. Evidence for hydrophobic aggregation between the fluorocarbon groups was observed from the viscosity versus concentration profile, effects of shear rate and the addition of NaCl and surfactants on the viscosity of terpolymer solutions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |