PEG400 novel phase description in water

The behavior of hydroxyl-terminated PEG400 in water was investigated by surface tension measurements and 13C NMR as a function of concentration and temperature. PEG400 exhibited a critical aggregative concentration (cac) that evidenced both its amphiphilic character and its aggregation capacity. Moreover, the chemical shifts of the different carbons of the PEG were followed by NMR versus concentration at various temperatures. We observed a plateau between 20 and 35 degrees C at concentrations above 0.2 mol L(-1) and ascribed it to the aggregation process. A good correlation was found between the NMR spectra in the region of aggregation and the cac region in the phase diagram. Our investigations were also focused on the solid-liquid region of the phase diagram at lower temperatures. These experimental data, together with conclusions available in the literature, led us to propose explanations for the conformation/hydration/aggregation in the PEG400-water solutions phenomena.