Abstract
AbstractThe formation of polyelectrolyte complexes between carboxymethylcellulose and N‐methylated poly(2‐vinylpyridine), at a nonstoichiometric mixing ratio, was studied. Various methods, such as viscometry, turbidimetry, electrophoresis, and optical spectroscopy, were used to investigate the complexes with respect to their composition, structure, and stability in aqueous systems of different ionic strengths. A gel‐like structure was proposed for the nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes. Two steps of complex formation—ionic bond formation followed by its rearrangement—were identified. The conformational change of the polyelectrolyte chains in the complexes, responsible for the slower and latter step, was followed by viscometry, and the results were interpreted on the basis of a model proposed for the kinetics of swelling of hydrogels. A similarity was found between the kinetics of diffusion of polymer segments responsible for the swelling of a macrogel of a nonionic polymer and the rearrangement of ionic bonds leading to the formation of a nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complex el. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2288–2295, 2003
Highlights
Intermacromolecular complexation caused by the attractive interaction of complementary polyelectrolytes (PEs) has been the focus of much attention during the last few decades.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7] As a result, a clear picture of the complexation process has emerged
The polyanion chains, which were of relatively longer lengths, acted as host polyelectrolytes (HPEs), in the generally used terminology, whereas the shorter polycation chains could be considered guest polyelectrolytes (GPEs)
At a specific composition of the polyelectrolyte complex (PEC), at which NaCC was in excess, a viscous solution of the nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes (NPECs) was obtained in which the dispersed species was proposed to be swelled microgels with an excess negative charge
Summary
Intermacromolecular complexation caused by the attractive interaction of complementary polyelectrolytes (PEs) has been the focus of much attention during the last few decades.[1,2,3,4,5,6,7] As a result, a clear picture of the complexation process has emerged. Vishalakshi (E-mail: koodlivishala@ yahoo.co.uk) modynamic and kinetic aspects of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) formation, the relevance of the characteristics of PECs, and the nature of the interacting systems has been well established. This knowledge has assisted in the understanding of the complex biological phenomenon[8] and self-assembly of molecules. PECs have been used in the development of new materials with potential industrial, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and biotechnological applications.[9,10,11,12]
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