Macromolecular collapse of water-soluble polymers under the effect of phenol

The effect of phenol on the structure-related dynamic properties of macromo lecules in aqueous dilute (0.01-0.02 wt %) polymer solutions was studied us ing luminescence methods. It was established that within the narrow range o f phenol concentration, which is dependent on the polymer chemical structur e, regions with an increased concentration of apolar groups are formed with in the polymer-phenol macromolecular complex. These regions are detected by using apolar luminescent indicators. A further slight increase in the phen ol content in a solution contributes to a sharp S-shaped increase in the na nosecond relaxation times characterizing the intramolecular mobility of pol ymer chains. The data obtained indicate that phenol induces cooperative cha nges of intramolecular structure of macromolecules resulting in their compa ctization. The molecular mechanism of this phenomenon was proposed.