Experimental and Theoretical Investigations on the Structure of Copolymers at the Liquid/Liquid Interface

Small-angle neutron scattering has been used to investigate the structure of copolymers at the liquid/liquid interface. The results are compared with theoretical predictions from the self-consistent field theory of Scheutjens and Fleer extended to include three components and a penetrable interface. Both poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide) block oopolymers and poly(vinyl alcohol-co-acetate) random copolymers have been used as non-ionic surfactants. The emulsions were prepared by using an aerosol method and by a more conventional high speed mixing process.