Synthesis of Very Highly Ordered Liquid Crystalline Phases by Complex Formation of Polyacrylic Acid with Cationic Surfactants

Abstract

Amphotropic interactions and favorable steric conditions result in the formation of liquid crystalline phases from complexes of polyacrylic acid with cationic surfactants. In these phases, the polymer chains are intertwined into a multichain structure (shown below). These complexes form by self-organization, and have interesting optical and mechanical properties.