Structural study of surfactant aggregates in polyelectrolyte gel

Nonstoichiometric ordered network polymer-surfactant complexes (NPSC) forme d by slightly cross-linked networks of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chlorid e) (PDADMACL) and oppositely charged surfactant of sodium dodecylbenzenesul fonate (SDBS) were obtained. The structure of NPSC was studied by SAXS. At the excess of SDBS in the presence of low-molecular-weight salt, sodium chl oride, the complexes can include the surfactant molecules containing sodium ions. The structure of such nonstoichiometric NPSC is more ordered than th at of NPSC prepared in the absence of salts. The excess of the surfactant a nions in polyelectrolyte network increases in the region of intermediate Na Cl concentration (ca. 0.3 M). At a very high concentrations of NaCl (ca. 1. 0 M) partial dissociation of the complex and formation of SDBS precipitate in the solution with lamellar type of ordering is observed. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.