MESOMORPHIC STRUCTURES IN FLEXIBLE POLYMER SURFACTANT SYSTEMS DUE TO HYDROGEN-BONDING - POLY(4-VINYLPYRIDINE)-PENTADECYLPHENOL

Properly selected hydrogen bonding suffices to induce mesomorphic stru ctures in mixtures of flexible polymers and nonmesogenic surfactants. For poly(4-vinylpyridine)-3-pentadecylphenol (P4VP(PDP)(x)) complexes, the long period of the lamellar structure decreases as x(-1) (x is th e number of PDP molecules per P4VP repeat unit) in complete contrast t o similar polyelectrolyte systems. Upon cooling from 80 degrees C to t he room temperature, the long period gradually increases and levels of f at around 30 degrees C at a value which is approximately 4 Angstrom above the starting value. After an induction time, a structural transf ormation occurs in the highly complexed samples, due to the crystalliz ation of the alkyl side chains. It is accompanied by a sudden decrease in the long period of approximately 5 Angstrom. However, the structur e is not stable and after an additional induction time both structures are present in the samples. Arguments to explain most of the observed phenomena will be given.