``Phase'' Behavior of Aqueous Solutions of Poly($N$-isopropylacrylamide)

A series of linear poly($N$-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM) samples were prepared by living anionic polymerization. The cloud-point curves for their aqueous solutions were determined by monitoring the transmittance of light through the solutions. The transmittance decreased monotonically with increasing temperature below the cloud point, as expected, but unexpectedly, it remained at a constant value if heating was stopped at a temperature. It means that the decrease in transmittance with increasing temperature does not necessarily correspond to the phase separation, i.e., the cloud-point curve for an aqueous solution of PNIPAM is not always identical with the coexistence curve.