Clusters of optimum size formed by hydrophobically associating polyelectrolyte in homogeneous solutions and in supernatant phase in equilibrium with macroscopic physical gel

Yuri D. Zaroslov*, Georgios Fytas, Marinos Pitsikalis, Nikolaos Hadjichristidis, Olga E. Philippova, Alexei R. Khokhlov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

The formation of finite-sized microgel particles was revealed by photon correlation spectroscopy in aqueous solutions of hydrophobically associative polyelectrolyte polystyrene-block-poly(sodium methacrylate)-block-polystyrene. Starting from the lowest polymer concentration (1 × 10-6 g· L-1) up to 1 g·L-1 a single relaxation process dominates the spectrum of relaxation times of the polymer solutions. This dominant mode was attributed to the diffusive motion of supramolecular microgel particles with a size of about 100 nm. Above a polyelectrolyte concentration of 1.0 g·L-1, the size of the microgel grows up to ca. 300 nm. At a polymer concentration 20 g·L-1, macroscopic phase separation occurs: the liquid phase of the microgel-cluster solution coexists with the phase of the macroscopic gel. (Figure Presented) Schematic representation of the formation of supramolecular structures in aqueous solutions of hydrophobically associative polyelectrolyte.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)173-179
Number of pages7
JournalMacromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Volume206
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 5 2005

Keywords

  • Dynamic light scattering
  • Microgels
  • Phase separation
  • Polyelectrolyte telechelics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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