Pluronic Structure and Synthesis

Copolymer MW Average number of EO units (x) Average number of PO units (y) HLB Cloud point in 1% aqueous solution (°C) CMC (M)  

Pluronic block copolymers are S3mthesized by sequential addition of PO and EO monomers in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, such as sodium or potassimn hydroxide (3). The reaction is initiated by polymerization of the PO block followed by the growth of EO chains at both ends of the PO block. Anionic polymerization usually produces polymers with a relatively low polydispersity index (Mn/Mw). Fmrther chromatographic fractionation was employed in procedures for the manufacture of highly purified block copolymers (12,13). 

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