STATIC AND DYNAMIC LIGHT SCATTERING FROM MONOFUNCTIONAL IONOMER SOLUTIONS. AGGREGATION OF THE ω-CARBOXYLIC FUNCTIONALIZED POLYSTYRENE THROUGH NEUTRALIZATION IN TETRAHYDROFURAN

• Published in: Journal of macromolecular science. Physics 2001-11, Vol.40 (6), p.1109-1130
• Main Authors: Mucyn, Noëlle, Duval, Michel, Duplessix, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregation process; Applied sciences; Dilute polymer solution; Exact sciences and technology; Ionomer; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; Solution and gel properties; Static and dynamic light scattering
• ISSN: 0022-2348; 1525-609X
• DOI: 10.1081/MB-100107805

A polystyrene (PS), prepared using controlled radical polymerization and fitted at one of its ends by a carboxylic acid function, was neutralized with a manganese acetate salt. The aim of the study was to characterize the neutralized form of this polymer by comparison with the related acid polymer. The study was performed in a solvent with weak polarity, tetrahydrofuran (THF). The elastic and quasi-elastic light-scattering techniques used inform on the static and dynamic behavior of the polymer. Studied concentrations are in the diluted regime (c < c * ) of free chains. The elastic light-scattering distribution reported by neutralized chain solutions showed the presence of large-size objects. The intensity autocorrelation function obtained on the quasi-elastically scattered light showed, in the case of the acid form, a simple diffusive relaxation mode; for the manganese-neutralized form, it showed two well-separated diffusive modes. An aggregation occurred between chains, and it was shown that it exists in the weakest concentrations studied (c * /60), and that aggregates coexist with unassociated chains in solution. The results obtained are compared with an aggregation model.