POLYMER-SURFACTANT INTERACTION STUDIES IN AQUEOUS SYSTEM

Polymer-surfactant interaction studies by surface tension, conductance , and viscosity measurements at various temperatures have been carried out between the nonionic polymer polyacrylamide ((PAA) and cationic s urfactant cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The critical aggrega tion concentration (CAC) and polymer saturation point (PSP) have been computed and are found to decrease with increase in temperature. The e ffect of the increase in polymer concentration on CAC & PSP has been d etermined. The degree of ionization 'alpha', of the polymer-surfactant complex is computed which is found to increase with increase in tempe rature. The thermodynamic quantities associated with the PSP are compu ted.