BLOCK POLYMERISATION BY INTERFACIAL COUPLING OF IMMISCIBLE POLYMERS BEARING MUTUALLY REACTIVE END-GROUPS: INTERFACIAL ACTIVITY OF omega -FUNCTIONALISED POLYMERS.

This paper focuses on the effect that an end-group has on the behavior of a polymer of opposite philicity at a water-toluene interface. Measurements of the reduction in interfacial tension promoted by poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) end-capped by a hydrophobic C//1//0H//1//8 group, and polystyrene (PS) terminated by an ammonium bromide group shed light on the role played by the end-group in the polymer adsorption. Values of the equilibrium interfacial tension support the conclusion that the adsorption of the hydrophilic polymer (PEO) is largely independent to the C//1//0H//1//8 end-group whereas the ammonium bromide effectively drives PS to the interfacial region.