Abstract
The interpolymer association by hydrogen bonding between poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(acrylic acid) leads to formation of an insoluble complex. The presence of dioxane in a mixed solvent with water regulates the formation and properties of this complex, as is evident from viscometric, potentiometric and turbidity measurements. Increase of the dioxane content in solution causes a decrease in the degree of complexation, and beyond a critical dioxane concentration irreversible dissociation of polycomplexes occurs. A unique situation occurs at about 30% (w/w) dioxane in water (35% in D 2 O), whereby the interpolymer complex is soluble yet maintains a significant degree of complexation. Neutron scattering studies suggest that the soluble complex in this mixed solvent system exists as a single polymeric entity in a random coil conformation. It is likely that the complex assumes a soluble double-stranded structure in this mixed solvent system.
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