Synthesis of nonionic surfactant from Castor oil and Polyoxazoline

The aim of this work is the synthesis of a new family of nonionic polymer surfactant based on lipid and synthetic hydrophilic polymers. Using the low toxicity and the hydrophilic property of polyoxazoline (POx), lipopolymers were elaborated from castor oil. Castor oil was used as hydrophobic unit and macroinitiator of the polymerization of methyloxazoline. In order to show the evolution of the surfactive properties with the HLB of the amphiphilic molecule, various lengths of polyoxazoline block were synthesized. The measure of the critical micellar concentration was consistent with classical nonionic surfactants in the absolute value of CMC and in the evolution of it. A micellar organization in solution was also revealed as well as a self-assembly in solid state by ESEM-EDX analysis.