SELF-ASSEMBLY PHENOMENA IN MULTICOMPONENT SYSTEMS COMPOSED OF POLYELECTROLYTES AND IONIC SURFACTANTS

The ability of anionic surfactants to expel fluorescence-tagged poly(m ethacrylate) polyanion (PMA) from nonstoichrometric water-soluble int erpolyelectrolyte complex (NIPEC) formed by PMA and polycation-quench er poly(N-alkyl-4-vinylpyridinium) (PAlkVP) and to form polyelectrolyt e-surfactant complex (PESC): NIPEC(PMA-PAlkVP)+surfactant double left right arrow PESC(PAlkVP-surfactant)+PMA was revealed and studied by fluorescence quenching technique and high-speed sedimentation. It was found that the transfer of poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium) from NIPEC to PESC proceeded up to complete conversion providing a self-assembly of both PESC and NIPEC particles in the course of the reaction. The co ncentration of the surfactant and the ''tail'' length of the surfactan t molecule, as well as the structure of Alk groups, temperature, pH, i onic strength, and the nature of added low-molecular-weight electrolyt e proved to be the factors of the reaction equilibrium control.