Colloidal stability of aqueous dispersions of block ionomer complexes: effects of temperature and salt

This work characterized colloidal stability of the dispersions, formed by the complexes of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(sodium methacrylate) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. At room temperature, the dispersion was stabilized by the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains and did not aggregate for at least several months. Elevation of temperature caused aggregation of the dispersion because of dehydration of the PEO chains. At initial stages (minutes), the aggregation was reversible and the particles spontaneously redispersed once the temperature was decreased. However, it became irreversible at the later stages (hours), probably indicating fusion of the hydrophobic cores of the BIC particles. Addition of elementary salts led to a decrease of the aggregation temperature. The effects of various salts were dependent on the chemical nature of the ions and were consistent with the Hofmeister series. This behavior was discussed in terms of hydration and London (dispersion) interactions between the ions and the PEO.     

Fluorescence anisotropy study of aqueous dispersions of block ionomer complexes

Block ionomer complexes (BIC) of "dual hydrophilic" block copolymers containing ionic and nonionic blocks and oppositely charged surfactants spontaneously form colloidal particles of ca. 80 nm in diameter stable in aqueous dispersions at every composition of the mixture. Packing and dynamics of aliphatic groups of the surfactant in BIC were examined by using the quenching-resolved fluorescence anisotropy (QRFA) method with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as a probe. The values of the order parameter and rotational relaxation time in the BIC were higher than those in the surfactant micelles. Incorporation of aliphatic alcohols in the BIC decreased the order parameter and increased the rotational relaxation time. The effects on the order parameter were explained by changes in the surfactant aliphatic group conformation to "fill the gaps" induced by insertion of shorter alcohol molecules. The effects on the relaxation time were attributed to a decrease in repulsion of the surfactant headgroups and expulsion of water from the BIC hydrophobic interior as evidenced by the decrease in micropolarity. The results of this study have implications for potential use of the BIC in pharmaceutics and other fields.     

The enthalpy of formation of magnesium sulfate ion pairs

The enthalpies of dilution of lithium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium chloride and sulfate solutions in the range 0.1 to 1.0 m have been measured at 30°C with a microcalorimeter. The relative apparent enthalpies φ_L of these solutions have been determined with the aid of an extended form of the Debye-Hückel limiting law $$\phi _L = S_H I^{1/2} [1/(1 + I^{1/2} ) - (\sigma /3)] + {\rm B}{\rm I} + CI^{3/2} $$ whereS _H is the limiting-law slope, σ = 3/I^3/2 × [(1+I^1/2 ? 1/(1+I^1/2 ? 2 ln (2+I^1/2)], andB andC are empirical constants. This equation fits the experimental results to within a standard deviation of 2 cal-mole^?1 for all the salts. The measured φ_L for the MgSO₄ solutions were compared to those calculated using the additivity principle, φ_L(MgCl₂) + φ_L(Na₂SO₄) ? 2φ_L(NaCl), and the extended Debye-Hückel equation. The results of this comparison have been used to calculate the ΔH _A ^o for the formation of MgSO ₄ ⁰ . A value of ΔH _A ^o = 1.15 to 1.36 was obtained, depending upon the φ_L estimates for the free ions Mg²⁺ and SO ₄ ^2? . The results are briefly discussed and compared to the results obtained by other workers.     

Analysis of drugs by AAS via formation of ion pairs

A new procedure for determining nitrogenated bases by forming ion pairs with Fe(SCN)6^3– is studied. The method consists of extracting the ion pair formed by a nitrogenated base and the inorganic complex Fe(SCN)6^3– into an organic phase, and measuring the iron in the organic phase by AAS at 248.3 nm. The optimal experimental conditions for determining amylocaine, avacan, bromhexine, diphenhydramine and papaverine are studied. The organic phase used is 1,2-dichloroethane. The standard deviation of the method varies between 10^–1 and 10^–2. The interferences produced by various substances are studied.     

Proton-transfer photoreactions in hydrogen-bonded complexes and the formation of ion pairs by aromatic hydroxy compounds in the presence of crown ethers

This study is concerned with proton-transfer photoreactions in hydrogen-bonded complexes and the formation of ionized forms of naphthols in the ground state, in the presence of crown ethers. It has been found that a loss in electronic excitation energy may occur during the proton transfer in the hydrogen bond. The efficiencies of the observed radiationless deactivation processes aie controlled by the nature of the excited proton donor.     

On the stability of the polymer brushes formed by adsorption of ionomer complexes on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces

We have studied the effect of normal forces and shear forces on the stability and functionality of a polymer brush layer formed upon adsorption of polymeric micelles on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. The micelles consist of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte blocks (poly(acrylic acid) and poly(N-methyl 2-vinyl pyridinium iodide), and a neutral block (poly(vinyl alcohol)) or neutral grafts (poly(ethylene oxide)). The strength of the attachment of the micellar layers to various substrates was evaluated with Atomic Force Microscopy. Flow cell experiments allowed for the evaluation of long-term stability of coatings in lateral flow. Fixed angle optical reflectometry was used to quantify protein (BSA) adsorption on the micellar layers after their exposure to flow. The results show that adsorbed micellar layers are relatively weakly attached to hydrophobic surfaces and much stronger to hydrophilic surfaces, which has a significant impact on their stability. Adsorbed layers maintain their ability to suppress protein adsorption on hydrophilic surfaces but not on hydrophobic surfaces. Due to the relatively weak attachment to hydrophobic surfaces the structure of adsorbed layers may easily be disrupted by lateral forces, such that the complex coacervate-brush structure no longer exists.     

The effect of pressure on the formation of alkali metal borate ion pairs at 25°C

Pressure dependent UV-visible spectrophotometric measurements were used to determine \(\Delta \bar V^ * \) and \(\Delta \bar \kappa ^ * \) for the formation of alkali metal borate ion pairs. The association constant for each ion pair was measured at 25°C and at ionic strengths of 0.1 and 1.0m over a pressure range of 1 to 2000 atm. The pressure dependence of the apparent association constants, K _A (P)/K _A (1), have been fitted to $$[RT/(P - 1)]ln[K_A (P)]/[K_A (1)] = - \Delta \bar V^0 + \Delta \bar \kappa ^0 [(P - 1)/2]$$ to determine \(\Delta \bar V^0 and \Delta \bar \kappa ^0 \) . The \(\Delta \bar V^0 \) for the alkali metal borate ion pairs range from 5–9 cm³-mol^?1. The association constants were also measured as a function of ionic strength at 1 atm. Extrapolation to I=0 yielded K _A of 2.12, 0.66, 0.76 and 1.12 for [LiB(OH)₄], [KB(OH)₄], [RbB(OH)₄] and [CsB(OH)₄], respectively. The trend generally indicates less ion pairing and a smaller volume change for the ion pair formation as the size of the cation increases. The concept of localized hydrolysis is used to explain the trend observed in the equilibrium constant of the ion pair as the cation size is changed.     

Possible gas-phase ion pairs in amine-HCl complexes. An ab initio theoretical study

Ab initio MO calculations were performed for complexes between HCl and NH₃, CH₃NH₂, (CH₃)₂NH and (CH₃) ₃N. SCF geometry optimization for the latter three complexes gives double-minimum potential surfaces, which become single- minimum surfaces when electron correlation is considered. It is proposed that (CH₃)₃NHCl may be an ion pair in the gas phase.     

Effect of cationic surfactant on the formation of ferron complexes

In the spectrophotometric determination of aluminium and iron with ferron (7-iodo-8-quinolinol-5-sulphonic acid, H(2)L), the addition of cationic surfactants greatly improves the linearity of the calibration curve and widens the useful pH range. The effect of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMAC) on the stepwise stability constants (K(1),K(2) and K(3)) of the ferron complexes of aluminium and iron (ML(+), ML(-)(2) and ML(3-)(3)) and on the acid-dissociation constants (K(a1) and K(a2)) of ferron has been studied in connection with the role of the surfactant. CTMAC greatly increases the value of K(3) while exerting little effect on K(1) and K(2), thus rendering ML(3-)(3) the predominant species even at very low concentration of free L(2-). It also has some effect on the acid-dissociation constants of ferron, but sometimes it acts to decrease the free L(2-) concentration. At is therefore concluded that the improvements due to addition of surfactant should be attributed to the increased K(3) value. The presence of surfactant micelles is not essential, because the surfactant has a favourable effect when present at well below its critical micelle concentration, and because the continuous variations plots show a peak at a point corresponding to the composition M: L: Q (Q = cationic surfactant) = 1:3:3.     

Photodissociative formation of ion pairs from molecular hydrogen and the electron affinity of the hydrogen atom

Photodissociative production of ion pairs from H₂ has been observed in the wavelength range 706–718 A at spectral resolution of 0.4 and 0.22 A. From measured thresholds for production of H^? from H₂ molecules in each of the three lowest rotational states, the lower bound EA(H) ? 0.754 ± 0.002 eV is obtained, in excellent agreement with the theoretical electron affinity of 0.75421 eV. For formation of D^? from D₂, a threshold assigned to molecules in the rotational state J = 2 has been measured, from which the bound EA(D) ? 0.757 ± 0.005 eV is obtained. Negative ion yield curves are presented for hydrogen.     

Mechanical properties and morphology of homoblends of a poly(ethyl acrylate) ionomer having one ion pair per ionic repeat unit and a poly(ethyl acrylate) ionomer having two ion pairs

The mechanical properties and morphology of homoblends of poly(ethyl acrylate‐co‐acrylate) (PEAA) having one ion pair per ionic monomer repeat unit and poly(ethyl acrylate‐co‐itaconate) (PEAITA) having two ion pairs were investigated. It was found that the compositional variation in the ionomer homoblends did not affect the matrix or cluster glass transition temperatures of the two ionomers of the homoblends. It was also observed that the ionomer homoblends showed two ionic plateaus and that the changes in the two ionic moduli were directly related to the relative amounts of the two ionomers. The ionic moduli calculated with the model for filler‐dispersed materials were found to fit the experimental data to a great extent. Therefore, it was suggested that the PEAITA/PEAA ionomer homoblends were filler‐containing composite materials rather than miscible blends. In the X‐ray scattering study, it was observed that the morphology of the ionomer homoblends was not affected by mixing. The results obtained in this work might be useful for the modification of the storage moduli of copolymers in a certain temperature range without the alteration of their processing temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1045–1052, 2007.     

Salt effects in the mercuration of unsaturated compounds. Kinetic evidence for the formation of ion pairs and a solvated ion

The kinetics of mercuration of bornylene and cyclohexene in different solvents in the presence of NaOAc and LiClO₄ has been investigated. Addition of NaOAc sharply decreases the rate of addition reactions of mercuric acetate to bornylene and cyclohexene in alcohols; the main direction of the mercuration of bornylene is the formation of acetoxy-adducts, and the yield of solvo-adducts decreases from 76 % in the absence of NaOAc, to 19 % in the presence of the salt (4·10^–3 mol L^–1). A reaction scheme involving the participation of intermediate ion pairs and a solvated mercurinium ion is suggested and confirmed by a steady-state concentration method. The influence of NaOAc on the rate of the reaction and on product formation is realized through the common ion effect.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 819–826, May, 1994.     

Adsorption of buffer ion pairs can alter long‐term electroosmotic flow stability

Dynamic capillary coatings have become widespread due to their efficacy in modifying the EOF in capillary electrophoretic separations and ability to limit unwanted analyte‐surface interactions. However, our understanding of exactly what types of interactions are taking place at the surface of a capillary when these dynamic additives are present is limited. In this work, we have chosen a simple, small molecule additive, tetramethylammonium to examine its influence on the EOF under typical separation conditions. What we have revealed is that this simple compound does not interact with the capillary surface in a very simple manner. Our initial hypothesis of a direct ionic interaction with the silanol surface has evolved with evidence of complex ion pairing between the silanols, the tetramethylammonium, and the buffer ions. This ion pairing can result in drastic changes in the EOF over time, and that the EOF can only be restored to initial levels with harsh rinses containing sodium hydroxide.     

Effect of added salt on the stability of hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes

Association of macromolecules in aqueous media through hydrogen bonding results in the formation of discrete interpolymer complexes (IPCs). In this work, the effect of added salt on the stability of IPCs consisting of polyacrylic acid and either a flexible polymer (polyethylene oxide or polyvinylpyrrolidone) or a semirigid polymer (hydroxy propylcellulose) is examined by a combination of spectrophotometry, viscometry and potentiometry. Addition of a neutral salt (e.g., NaCl) typically results in IPC aggregation. The response of the IPCs to salts that promote salting-in (i.e., LiSCN, NaSCN and GuSCN, where Gu denotes guanidine) is strongly cation-dependent, since Li⁺ cations induce an increase in solution pH, whereas Gu⁺ cations compete with polyacrylic acid for complexation sites. The degree of complexation (), calculated from potentiometric data, is greatest for IPCs in the absence of salt and is found to decrease in the order NaCl>NaSCN>GuSCN. Addition of salts that induce salting-in at polymer solution concentrations favoring complexation is found to enhance IPC solubility (and reduce ) until the IPC particles are either completely solubilized or dissociated.     

Solution behavior of sulfonate ionomer interpolymer complexes

The interaction of metal sulfonate ionomers with polymers containing low levels of amines has been investigated in solution. For example, zinc sulfo EPDM and a styrene/vinyl pyridine copolymer form such complexes over broad concentration ranges. The resultant solutions offer enhanced viscosities at dilute polymer concentrations. At high polymer levels solutions based on these complexes are lower in viscosity than the ionomer alone. These interpolymer complexes have been shown to exhibit an improved property/rheology balance in bulk systems. In solution, polymer complexes provide control of hydrocarbon solution viscosity not available with conventional polymers. Reduced viscosity-concentration studies suggest that these polymer complexes are a result of the amine-containing polymer interacting with intramolecular-associated ionomer coils, which at higher concentrations form a pseudonetwork.