Long‐term change in conformation of macromolecules in solution, 2. Poly(acrylamide‐co‐sodium acrylate)s

Abstract

Abstract The solution viscosity of aqueous poly(acrylamide‐co‐sodiumacrylate)s decreases with time in the scale of weeks. This unusual viscosity loss has been investigated by viscometry and by light scattering on high purity copolymer samples with different ratios of the components. — No viscosity loss can be observed in NaCl solution of high enough salt concentration. From the experiments it is concluded that a conformational change causes the viscosity decrease. No chain scission occurs. Light scattering measurements were used to directly confirm this hypothesis. — The viscosity loss may be caused by a conformational change of single molecules involving hydrogen bonds and can be interpreted as a transition from a partly stiffer, higher viscous structure to a more flexible one. As the driving force for the conformational change the entropy is discussed. The pronounced time dependence may be interpreted by a cooperative effect of loosening and combining of hydrogen bonds. — A similar behaviour has been observed earlier in aqueous poly(acrylamide) solutions. Thus, for some water soluble polymers one has to be aware of a time dependent parameter.