Influence of salts on hydrophobically end-capped polyethylene oxides in aqueous solution

The influence of four different salts (NaCl, KBr, CaCl2 and MgCl2, on the a ssociative behaviour of poly(ethylene oxide) (POE with M=32000g/mol) hydrop hobically end-capped with hexadecyl groups in aqueous solutions was investi gated. Phase diagrams were obtained, structural properties were established by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements and studies on the v iscoelastic properties of the solutions were performed by low-shear viscosi ty and dynamic stress experiments. The influence of the four salts is compa red as well as the difference of the interactions obtained with and without salts.