Next-Generation Random Copolymer Surfactants

We have recently discovered that the statistical copolymerisation of a binary mixture of a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic (meth)acrylic monomer produces highly surface-active random copolymers. These macromolecular surfactants can stabilise substantially non-aqueous foams (e.g. 70-80% ethanol + 10-20% water) and hence should find applications as next-generation silicone-free surfactants for hand sanitiser formulations. With this PhD studentship, we intend to address the following questions. 1. Do acrylic copolymers perform better than methacrylic copolymers? 2. What is the optimum hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance (HLB) for long-term foam stability? 3. Which is the best pair of hydrophilic and hydrophobic comonomers to use in such formulations? 4. What is the optimum copolymer molecular weight? 5. What is the maximum solids content (e.g. 50% w/w?) at which these copolymerisations can be performed? 6. What is the optimum copolymer concentration for long-lived foams? 7. Can we design hydrolytically-degradable copolymer surfactants? 8. Can we establish synthesis-structure-property relationships that enable further fine-tuning of the surface activity? 9. Do these random copolymer surfactants outperform the equivalent block copolymer surfactants? 10. Are these copolymer surfactants suitable for specific applications, e.g. hand sanitiser formulations, polyurethane foam stabilisation, fluorine-free fire extinguisher foams, etc