Study of poly (sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) behavior in water/non-solvent mixtures by conductivity and refractive index measurements

• Published in: Colloid and polymer science 2017-09, Vol.295 (9), p.1729-1739
• Main Authors: Zoghlami, Ons, Guettari, Moez, Tajouri, Tahar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Conductivity; Correlation analysis; Density; Equivalence; Ethanol; Food Science; Mathematical analysis; Molecular weight; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Original Contribution; Physical Chemistry; Polyelectrolytes; Polymer Sciences; Refractivity; Sodium; Soft and Granular Matter; Solvents; Specific volume
• ISSN: 0303-402X; 1435-1536
• DOI: 10.1007/s00396-017-4104-y

In this research paper, we intend to describe some characteristics and properties of polyelectrolyte as well as its specific behavior in mixed media. We have studied the behavior of poly (sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) in water/ethanol media under temperature, concentration and non-solvent (ethanol) addition effects by conductivity and refractive index measurements. The average molecular weight of PSS was about 1,000,000 g mol −1 . In the first part of this work, we have tested the validity of the Manning’s theory for this system, where the equivalent conductivity was calculated over the temperature and concentration range. A major discrepancy between the experimental and the calculated equivalent conductivity was observed. In a second part, we have measured the refractive indices of PSS in water/ethanol mixtures. The specific volumes of PSS were deduced according to Lorentz-Lorenz equation for all the mixture’s compositions and the studied temperature range. A correlation between the PSS structure and the variation of its specific volume was shown.