Self-consistent field theory of brushes of neutral water-soluble polymers.

The self-consistent field theory of brushes of neutral water-soluble polymers described by two-state models is formulated in terms of the effective Flory interaction parameter χ[sub eff](T,[lowercase_phi_synonym]) that depends on both temperature, T, and the monomer volume fraction, [lowercase_phi_synonym]. The concentration profiles, distribution of free ends and compression force profiles are obtained in the presence and in the absence of a vertical phase separation. A vertical phase separation within the layer leads to a distinctive compression force profile and a minimum in the plot of the moments of the concentration profile versus the grafting density. The analysis is applied explicitly to the Karalstrom model. The relevance to brushes of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM) is discussed. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]