FLUORESCENCE STUDIES OF THE KINETICS OF PROCESSES IN POLYMERS

Using a stopped-flow apparatus with fluorescence detection we followed the expansion of poly(methacrylic acid) after a pH jump, the enhancem ent of fluorescence of Auramine O after association with poly(methacry lic acid), the counterion exchange in ionomer solutions and the depend ence of the rate of inter-polymer reactions on the polymer chainlength . Fluorescence was also used to follow the unfolding of collapsed chai ns in bulk polymers and counterion diffusion in bulk ionomers.