Self-assembly of double hydrophobic block copolymers in water–ethanol mixtures: from micelles to thermoresponsive micellar gels

Abstract

Micellization and micellar gel formation of poly(styrene)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) [PS-b-PMMA] are demonstrated in a water-ethanol solvent mixture; full hydration of the PMMA causes a large radius of gyration resulting in micellar gel formation at only 1 wt% polymer concentration.