Formation-destruction conditions of an interpolymer complex between a poly(acrylic acid) gel and linear poly(ethylene glycol) in methanol

The contraction of a poly(acrylic acid) gel (GPAAc) (1) induced by complexa tion wit linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (2) in methanol media proceeds in a similar manner to that in aqueous solution. It was found that both the concentration and molecular mass of the PEG have a strong effect on the co mplexation with GPAAc. The existence of a stable interpolymer complex betwe en components under consideration takes place in the range of lower and upp er critical values of molecular mass (CMM) of the linear polymer. Outside o f these CMM values of PEG no perfect complexation occurred due to thermodyn amic and kinetic reasons. The structure of the interpolymer complex formed due to the hydrogen bonding is destabilized as a result of ionization and t he changing of the thermodynamic characteristics of the solvent under addit ion of dimethylsulfoxide to methanol. Influence of the PEG MM on teh interaction with (1) crosslinked and (2) lin ear(10)) PAA in (1) methanol and (2) aqueous solutions.