Av. Kabanov et al., SOLUBLE STOICHIOMETRIC COMPLEXES FROM POLY(N-ETHYL-4-VINYLPYRIDINIUM)CATIONS AND POLY(ETHYLENE OXIDE)-BLOCK-POLYMETHACRYLATE ANIONS, Macromolecules, 29(21), 1996, pp. 6797-6802
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.