Amphiphilic branched copolymer, methods of preparation, emulsions, and uses

Abstract

The present invention relates to an amphiphilic branched copolymer obtainable by an addition polymerisation process, the method of production of same and uses thereof as emulsions wherein said polymer comprises: at least two chains which are covalently linked by a bridge other than at their ends; and wherein the at least two chains comprise at least one ethylenically monounsaturated monomer, and wherein the bridge comprises at least one ethylenically polyunsaturated monomer; and wherein the polymer comprises a residue of a chain transfer agent and optionally a residue of an initiator, and wherein at least one of the monounsaturated monomer(s) and polyunsaturated monomer(s) and chain transfer agent(s) is a hydrophilic residue; and at least one of one of the monounsaturated monomer(s) and polyunsaturated monomer(s) and chain transfer agent(s) is a hydrophobic residue, and wherein the mole ratio of polyunsaturated monomer(s) to monounsaturated monomer(s) is in a range of from 1:100 to 1:4, and wherein at least one of the monounsaturated monomer(s) and polyunsaturated monomer(s) and chain transfer agent(s) comprises a moiety that is capable of responding to an external stimuli thereby creating a physical or chemical change in the solubility of the said moiety; and wherein the air-water surface tension of the polymer changes from between 35 mN/m to 60 mN/m upon application of the external stimulus.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.