New insights into the structure of polyelectrolyte complexes

• The formation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) from oppositely charged linear polyelectrolytes (PELs) was studied using static light scattering at various salt concentrations. The PELs used were poly(allylamine hydro chloride) (PAH) and the two polyanions poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA). Physical characteristics such as the radii of gyration, molecular weights, and water contents of the PECs were determined at various molar mixing ratios. Despite relatively small differences in chemical structure between PAA and PMAA, fairly large differences were detected in these physical characteristics. Generally, PECs comprising PMAA were larger and contained more water. Moreover, by using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, transmission microscopy and atomic force microscopy, shape and structure of the prepared PECs were investigated both in solution and after drying. The PECs were found to be spherical in solution and the shape was retained after freeze-drying. PECs adsorbed on silica surfaces and dried in air at room-temperature still showed a three-dimensional structure. However, the relatively low aspect ratios indicated that the PECs collapsed significantly due to interactions with the silica during adsorption and drying. At intermediate ionic strengths (1-10 mM), stagnation point adsorption reflectometry (SPAR) showed that the adsorption oflow charged cationic PAH-PAA PECs on silica surfaces increased if the pH value was increased from pH 5.5 to 7.5.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Pappers-, massa- och fiberteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

polyelectrolyte complex

poly(acrylic acid)

poly(niethacrylic acid)

poly(allylamine hydro chloride)

structure

water content

Cryo-TEM

AFM

light scattering

poly-electrolyte complexes

light-scattering

supermolecular structures

cationic polymers

adsorption

dispersions

improvement

microscopy

particles

strength

Cellulose and paper engineering

Cellulosa- och pappersteknik

Chemical engineering

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)