THE STRUCTURE AND SORPTION PROPERTIES OF A POLYMER-COLLOID COMPLEX FORMED BY CETYLPYRIDINIUM CATIONS AND POLYACRYLATE ANIONS

The structure and sorption properties of a stoichiometric polymer-coll oid complex, formed by polyacrylate anions and cetylpyridinium cations , were studied. The complex is essentially a cetylpyridinium salt of p olyacrylic acid and comprises positively charged surfactant lamellae l inked by salt bonds to polyacrylate anions. The aliphatic radicals of cetylpyridinium form a crystalline hexagonal packing inside the lamell ae. The polymer-colloid complex has an amphiphilic character and is ca pable of limited swelling in water and organic solvents of various pol arities. The swelling in water and low-polarity organic substances is accompanied by strong modification of the complex structure. During th e co-adsorption of saturated vapors of water and low-polarity organic substances, the equilibrium degree of swelling was markedly greater as compared to that following from the additive model.