POLYELECTROLYTE AGGREGATES IN SOLUTIONS OF SODIUM POLY(STYRENESULFONATE)

Dynamic and static light-scattering experiments in combination with li ght microscopy have been performed on solutions of the highly charged polyelectrolyte sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) at low ionic strength. A double-exponential correlation function was found, and the reciprocal normalized scattering intensity shows a strong angular dependence, in dicating the existence of polyelectrolyte aggregates. Light microscopy shows directly the existence of these aggregates. The dimensions of t hese aggregates increase with increasing polyelectrolyte concentration and increasing molar mass.