Evaluation of intrinsic viscosity measurements of hydrophobically modifiedpolyelectrolyte solutions

The dilute solution properties of the hydrophobically modified alkali-solub le emulsion (HASE) were examined using the intrinsic viscosity method. The HASE model systems with essentially the same chemical structure and molecul ar weight but different numbers of carbon in hydrophobe were synthesized fo r this study. The effects of ionic strength on the intrinsic viscosity meas urement of HASE systems were studied. The ionic strength of the dilute poly mer solution was found to influence the degree of hydrophobic association a nd the size of the micellar clusters during dilution. The variations of the above factors were experimentally found to have significant effects on the accuracy, reliability and repeatability of the intrinsic viscosity and Hug gins coefficient. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.