9311658 MacKnight Recent preliminary results have demonstrated complex formation between sulfonated polystyrene ionomers and oil-soluble surfactants in non-polar media resulting in the formation of a new type of nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte-oppositely charged surfactant complex which is soluble in some low-polarity solvents. The proposed research will be devoted to two subjects: an investigation of complexation between ionomers and oil-soluble surfactants and the study of the structure and properties of such complexes in non-polar media; and synthesis, investigation of structure and properties of novel nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte-water soluble surfactant complexes with a slight excess of non-complexed polyelectrolyte ionic groups. The study of the influence of the chemical structure of ionomer and surfactant and their initial aggregation state on complexation and the structure of the aggregates will provide a basis for quantitative modeling of ionomer-surfactant interactions in non- polar media. The experimental approach to the characterization of the aggregates will include viscometry, sedimentation velocity, dynamic, and static light scattering as well as x-ray scattering. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical and dielectric relaxation will be used to determine properties for these complexes in non-polar solutions and in the bulk. ***
