Surface Chemistry of High Polymers. I. Non-electrolytic Flexible Linear Polymers at Air/Water Interface

Abstract

Abstract The surface films of some linear non-electrolytic polymers such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl stearate and copolymers between them were studied at the air/water interface by measuring surface pressure, and surface potential in relation to the area occupied per monomer. The surface concentration was changed by two different methods, namely by the compression with barrier and by the successive addition by injection with micrometer syringe. Polyvinyl acetate gave the film of expanded type and was hardly affected by its degree of polymerization. Polyvinyl stearate gave the film of coherent type and its F—A curve resembled that of polyoctadecyl methacrylate. The copolymer with moderate content of vinyl stearate showed the smaller limiting area per monomer than polymers of its constituents. The results were discussed in relation to the molecular model and to the methods adopted to change the surface concentration.