Two new kinds of amphiphilic copolymers were synthesized in this work. Poly(1-octene-co-acrylic acid) copolymers were prepared through the copolymerization of 1-octene and tert-butyl acrylate, and the hydrolysis of tertbutyl acrylate units. Poly(1-octene-co-acrylic acid)-g-poly (ethylene glycol) copolymers were obtained from the esterification reaction between poly (1-octene-co-acrylic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether. They were characterized by means of H-1-NMR, C-13-NMR, GPC, and FTIR. These amphiphilic copolymers can form stable micelles in aqueous solutions. The critical micelle concentration was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The micellar morphology and size distribution were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115:2423-2431, 2010