Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide). II. Effect of polymer concentration, temperature, and surfactant on the viscosity of aqueous solutions

Abstract The effects of polymer concentration, temperature, and surfactant on the rheological properties of poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide), poly NIPAM, were studied. Below 28°C the viscosity decreased with increasing temperature according to the Arrhenius expression. However, at 29°C the viscosity increased to a maximum value at 32°C, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) for aqueous polyNIPAM. Higher temperatures gave a much lower viscosity. This unusual rheological behavior was explained by the phase behavior of the polymer. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) binding to polyNIPAM increased the cloud point temperature (CPT) and attenuated the unusual rheological behavior of polyNIPAM in water. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.