Physicochemical properties and solubility

Physicochemical properties and solubility

The chemical reactivity of polymers depends on the chemistry of their monomer units. However, their physicochemical properties depend, to a large extent, on the way the monomeric units are put together. This con-tributes to the versatility of synthetic polymers. Various arrangements of monomers, shown as ○ and ● in Figure 11.2, can be produced with consequent effects on the physical properties of the resulting polymer. For example, Eudragit polymers are commercially available with a wide range of physicochemical properties, including the effect of pH on solubility.

Depending on the polymer type and the types of cosolvents used, the over-all solubility of a single polymer or a mixture of polymers can be altered in a formulation. Polymers that are sufficiently polar interact with the water through hydrogen bonding to provide the favorable negative energy of sol-vation; that is, energy is released on dissolution of such polymers in water. Water-soluble polymers tend to increase the viscosity of their solutions as a function of polymer concentration due to entanglement and bonding of solvent molecules and reduction of slip planes in the colloidal polymer solu-tions. Hydrophilic polymers also tend to swell by absorbing water in solu-tion. In contrast, water-insoluble or hydrophobic polymers tend to form thin films or matrices.

Figure 11.4 represents polymer morphologies in solution, gel, and solid states. In solution, the polymer conformation depends on the interaction between the polymer and the solvent and whether the polymer chains asso-ciate to form micelles. Covalent cross-linking, hydrogen bonding, entangle-ment, or hydrophobic interactions among polymer chains in solution form gels. Agarose gel, edible Gello, and polyacrylamide gel are classic examples of aqueous gels. Aqueous gels tend to hold a significant amount of water in a solid-like structure but are immensely pliable and fragile.

Figure 11.4 Representation of polymer morphologies in solution, gel (hydrogel or lipogel), and solid states. In solution, the polymer conformation depends on the polymer-solvent interaction and whether the polymer chains associate to form micelles. Gels can be formed by covalent cross-linking, hydrogen bonding, or hydrophobic interactions.