Dilute solution behavior of polyelectrolytes. Intrinsic viscosity and light scattering studies

Abstract

Abstract The conformational character of a random copolymer of ethyl acrylate and acrylic acid (mole ratio 3:1) has been examined by intrinsic viscosity and light scattering in organic and in aqueous media. The unperturbed dimensions of this copolymer in its un‐ionized state in an organic theta solvent are 1.3 to 1.4 times those obtained for the fully ionized polymer in an aqueous theta solvent. The data also suggest that a change in conformation from a swollen random coil to a compact random coil occurs in aqueous media as a function of ionic strength. These results are interpreted in terms of the hydrophobic interaction of the ester groups on the chain. An application of the wormlike chain model shows that viscosity data can be used to predict the light scattering results well with in experimental error.