ABSTRACT EEC-9712915 CHAUDHURY Factors influencing polyelectrolyte are greater and more complex than those in organic solvents. Quantitative comparison of theory to experiment, and therefore a comprehensive understanding of these factors, is lacking. Only a fraction studies conducted with polyelectrolytes used samples with sufficient monodisperse molecular weight distribution to quantitatively isolate the relevant phenomena. This collaboration (TIE) project utilizes the expertise of two Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers to address this problem. Researchers at the Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers for Coatings Research at Eastern Michigan University will synthesize three classes of polymers to address the study. Researchers at the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Polymer Interfaces at Lehigh University will perform fundamental studies to build a ground-up understanding of the absorption behavior of these polymers.