SOLUBLE STOICHIOMETRIC COMPLEXES FROM POLY(N-ETHYL-4-VINYLPYRIDINIUM)CATIONS AND POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE)-BLOCK-POLYMETHACRYLATE ANIONS

Block ionomer complexes formed between the block copolymers containing poly(sodium methacrylate) (PMANa) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEG) segm ents and poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) (PEVP) were investiga ted. The data obtained suggest that (i) these systems form water-solub le stoichiometric complexes; (ii) these complexes are stable in a much broader pH range compared to the polyelectrolyte complexes prepared f rom homopolymers; (iii) they self-assemble to form the core of a micel le comprised of neutralized polyions, surrounded by the PEO corona; (i v) they are salt sensitive since they fall apart as the salt concentra tion increases beyond a critical value; and (v) they can participate i n the cooperative polyion substitution reactions. Therefore, these com plexes represent a new class of hybrid materials which combine propert ies of polyelectrolyte complexes and block copolymer micelles.