Temperature‐induced phase transition of poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate‐co‐acrylamide)

Copolymers of N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and acrylamide (AAm) were prepared to demonstrate a temperature-induced phase transition. Poly DMAEMA has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) around 50°C in water. With copolymerization of DMAEMA with AAm, the LCST shifts to the lower temperature was observed, probably due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between amide and N,N-dimethylamino groups. FT-IR studies clearly show the formation of hydrogen bonds which protect N,N-dimethylamino groups from exposure to water and result in a hydrophobic contribution to the LCST. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 595–598, 1997