Abstract: The conformation behavior of N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAM) and methacrylic acid (MAA) copolymer P(DEAM-co-MAA) was investigated by fluorescence probe technique and UV transmittance measurements. The results demonstrated that the conformation behavior of P(DEAM-co-MAA) in dilute aqueous solution is similar to that of PMAA, showing hypercoiled conformation and forming hydrophobic microdomain when the molar fraction of DEAM in P(DEAM-co-MAA) is less than 8.00％ and the solution pH is less than 6;but the conformation of P(DEAM-co-MAA) in dilute aqueous solution shows a loose extended form due to polymer dilution effect in all of pH range when the molar fraction of DEAM in P(DEAM-co-MAA) is higher than 8.00％.The effect of DEAM contents and pH on the conformation of P(DEAM-co-MAA) may find some uses in the design and synthesis of novel sensitive gels.

Key words: Fluorescence probe, Transmittance, P(DEAM-co-MAA) copolymer, 　Conformation behavior, Polymer dilute effect, Hydrophobic association