Hydrophobic polymers tethered to the water surface

Monolayers of hydrophobic polymers, tethered to the water surface are suitable model systems for the investigation of polymer melt brushes . Especially they offer a convenient way to vary the area per tethered head group and to give the brush a well defined orientation and make it accessible to other experimental techniques. Simple measurements of isotherms already yield valuable information on the thermodynamics of these brushes. 

Abstract Properties of monolayers of polymers tethered to the water surface are reviewed with emphasis on nonglassy hydrophobic polymers with polar head groups. These monolayers offer a convenient method to investigate polymer melt brushes . They are especially suited to probe the statistical thermodynamics of the polymer coils which are stretched away from the interface upon increasing tethering densities. They... 

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