BLOCK IONOMER COMPLEXES FROM POLYSTYRENE-BLOCK-POLYACRYLATE ANIONS AND N-CETYLPYRIDINIUM CATIONS

Insoluble nonstoichiometric and stoichiometric complexes were formed a s a result of reaction between polystyrene-bloch-polyacrylate anions ( PS-b-PAA(-)) and N-cetylpyridinium cations (C16Py+) in aqueous media. In the presence of water the nonstoichiometric complexes with low cont ent of surfactant represent swollen materials that contain polystyrene fragments, PAA units neutralized by surfactant, and ionized PAA(-) ch ains capable of ion exchange reactions involving regular inorganic and surfactant counterions. In the solid state these complexes represent a special class of complex ionomer material containing a segregated cr ystalline domain from C16Py+ bound to the polyion, sodium-carboxylate ion pairs, and an amorphous polystyrene segment. Changing the polyion and surfactant ratio as well as lengths of the block ionomer segments can vary the microstructure of such materials and their properties.