POLYELECTROLYTE BRUSHES WITH A FIXED CHAR GE-DISTRIBUTION IN THE CHAINS AND IONIZABLE BRUSHES

The properties of polyelectrolyte ''brushes'' with a fixed charge dist ribution and those with the charge controlled by the equilibrium with the environment, that is, an aqueous solution of a low-molecular-mass electrolyte, are compared. The analysis performed rests on the scaling theory. The thickness of brushes is examined as a function of graftin g density, pH, and ionic strength of solution. Abnormal swelling of io nizable brushes with a decrease in grafting density and/or increase in ionic strength of solution is predicted.