STRUCTURAL ELUCIDATION OF SOLUBLE POLYELECTROLYTE-MICELLE COMPLEXES -INTRAPOLYMER VS INTERPOLYMER ASSOCIATION

Soluble complexes formed between the strong polycation poly(dimethyldi allylammonium chloride) and mixed micelles of sodium dodecyl sulfate/T riton X-100, in 0.40 M NaCl and at low polymer concentration and exces s surfactant concentration, were investigated by a variety of techniqu es. The results of turbidimetry, static light scattering, dynamic ligh t scattering, dialysis equilibrium, viscometry, and electrophoretic li ght scattering are discussed in terms of possible structures for the c omplex in the limit of low polymer concentrations (C(P)), and its tend ency to associate upon an increase in C(P). The findings from these va rious studies are consistent with the formation of an intrapolymer com plex at low C(P). In this species, the binding of numerous mixed micel les leads to charge reversal and to the formation of a highly extended chain, wherein the dominant influence on polymer dimensions is interm icellar repulsion.