The effect of the amphiprotic nature of human hair keratin on the adsorption of high charge density cationic polyelectrolytes

Adsorption of the cationic polymers poly(methacrylamidopropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) (PMAPTAC) and poly(1,1-dimethylpiperidinium-3,5-diallylmethylene chloride) (PDMPDAMC) on human hair was studied by measurements of the amount of polymer adsorbed and by the streaming potential method. Results reflect the amphoteric nature of the keratin surface and show that the excess of anionic sites at pH values above 4 is the main driving force for the adsorption of cationic polyelectrolytes. Lowering the pH below 4 or addition of neutral salt (KCl) reduces the amount of adsorbed polymer. It was shown that the adsorption of cationic polymer in the concentration range 0.01 to 0.1 % and at neutral pH reverses the overall character of the surface from anionic to cationic. Keratin fibers modified in this manner do not exhibit amphoteric character and bear excess positive charge in the pH range 2–9.5. The value of the amount of the polymer adsorbed at saturation concentration (2 mg/g) as well as the lack of molecular weight effect in the range (5 · 10⁴ – 10⁶) on the amount of polymer adsorbed suggest that polymer chains adopt a rather extended conformation on the fiber surface. Some data concerning the formation of a complex between adsorbed cationic polymer and anionic detergents or polyelectrolytes are also presented.     

On the indirect polyelectrolyte titration of cellulosic fibers. Conditions for charge stoichiometry and comparison with ESCA

The effect of electrolyte (NaHCO3) concentration on the adsorption of poly-DADMAC (poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) onto cellulosic fibers with different charge profiles was investigated. Surface carboxymethylated fibers were obtained by grafting carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) onto the fiber surface and bulk carboxymethylated fibers were obtained by reacting the fibers with monochloroacetic acid. It was shown that nonionic interactions do not exist between cellulose and poly-DADMAC, rather electrostatic interactions govern the adsorption. Charge stoichiometry prevails under electrolyte-free conditions, whereas surface charge overcompensation occurs at higher electrolyte concentrations. It was shown that charge stoichiometry prevails if the thickness of the electric double layer kappa(-1) was larger than the mean distance between the charges on the fiber surface, as predicted by polyelectrolyte adsorption theories, taking lateral correlation effects into account. In a second set of experiments the ESCA technique served to independently calibrate the polyelectrolyte titrations for determining the surface charge of cellulosic fibers. Various molecular masses of poly-DADMAC were adsorbed to carboxymethylated fibers having different charge profiles. The adsorption of low M(w) poly-DADMAC (7.0 x 10(3)), analyzed by polyelectrolyte titration, was about 10 times higher than that of the high M(w) poly-DADMAC (9.2 x 10(5)). Despite the difference in accessibility of these two polyelectrolytes to the fiber cell wall, ESCA surface analysis showed, as expected, only slight differences between the two polyelectrolytes. This gives strong credibility to the idea that surface charge content of cellulosic fibers can be analyzed by means of adsorption of a high-molecular-mass cationic polymer, i.e., by polyelectrolyte titration.     

流动电位/胶体滴定法测定聚电解质电荷密度的研究

探讨了应用粒子电荷测定仪的流动电位判定胶体滴定终点的可行性。结果表明流动电位曲线能在样品浓度大于 0 .6× 1 0 - 5mol· L- 1的溶液中准确指示胶体滴定的终点 ,较常用指示剂邻甲胺兰的使用极限浓度低一个数量级。观察到由阳离子聚电质滴定阴离子聚电质能减少盐干扰的现象。叔胺型阳离子淀粉应在酸性下滴定     

The influence of classical and enzymatic treatment on the surface charge of cellulose fibres

Natural cellulose fibres comprise several non-cellulose compounds and cationic trash which cause problems during different adsorption processes such as dying, printing, final fiber finishing and coating. Therefore the pre-treatment (classical NaOH or environmental friendly enzymatic treatment, demineralisation) is the most important step in cellulose textile prefinishing-cleaning. An appropriate way to describe the success of different processes in fiber pre-treatment which result in distinct surface charge is the determination of electrokinetic properties-zetapotential (ZP) of fibers and textile materials. The zetapotential was determined by streaming potential measurements as a function of the pH and the surfactant concentration in the liquid phase.Cellulose fibers in an aqueous medium are negatively charged due to their characteristic carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. The degradation and removal of specific hydrophobic non-cellulose compounds which cover the primary wall of the cellulose polymer change the surface charge.The ZP is mainly influenced by waxes, their removal decreases the negative ZP. This result is obtained by the classical chemical process as well as by an environmentally friendly enzymatic treatment.Our results indicate that the progress of textile treatment and purification is reflected by the zetapotential of the fabrics. This method enables the estimation of the process'es progress and the interaction between components of the liquid phase and the fibre surface.     

Mechanism of TiO2 pigment retention on pulp fiber with polyelectrolytes

Pulp fibers and pigment dispersed in water are both negatively charged and, therefore, when a paper sheet is formed on a screen the pigment particles, which are of colloidal dimension, are not retained. Cationic polyelectrolytes are employed to promote pigment retention but the mechanism by which they operate is not well understood.Two cationic polyelectrolytes, based on polyethylenimine and polyacrylamide and used commercially as retention aids were examined to clarify their role in TiO₂ retention. From the comparison of polymer adsorption on both fiber and pigment, their electrophoretic mobility, and the extent of pigment retention it was concluded that the main mechanism is mutual attraction between oppositely charged fiber and pigment. In general, the fibers became positive at a polymer concentration where the pigment was still negative and maximum retention was realized when these negative pigment particles deposited on the already positive fibers. Homoflocculation of the pigment (and mechanical entrapment of pigment flocs in the forming sheet) also contributed to the overall retention and was more pronounced with the polyacrylamide polymer.     

Some Properties of Polyelectrolyte-G rafted Cellulose

Anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes were grafted on a bleached kraft pulp. Grafting an anionic polyelectrolyte (sodium poly-acrylate-polyacrylamide copolymer) resulted in modified fibers possessing outstanding affinity for water and saline solutions in the pH range where the polymer is ionized. Swelling is the result of both the grafting operation itself and of the presence of the ionized polyelectrolyte.

The swollen grafted fibers could be disintegrated under intense shear to give a colloidal solution exhibiting pseudoplastic thixo-tropic behavior. Electron microscopic examination revealed that during the shearing process the fiber had been disintegrated into its constitutive elements, long rodlike protofibrils, which are believed to be mainly responsible for the high viscosities observed.

Grafting a cationic polyelectrolyte (polydimethylamino ethyl methacrylate hydrochloride) produced fibers with lower but significant water swelling. The influence of pH on swelling was similar, although reversed, to that observed with the anionic grafted fibers. The presence of a large number of cationic groups in the porous cellulose fiber gel points to applications in ion-exchange and adsorption processes.     

Diffusion of cationic polyelectrolytes into cellulosic fibers

The penetration of cationic polyelectrolytes into anionic cellulosic fibers was evaluated with fluorescent imaging techniques in order to clarify the mechanism and time scales for the diffusion process. The bulk charge of the cellulosic fibers indirectly creates a driving force for diffusion into the porous fiber wall, which is entropic in nature due to a release of counterions as the polyelectrolyte adsorbs. The individual bulk charges in the fiber cell wall also interact with the diffusing polyelectrolyte, such that the polyelectrolyte diffuses to the first available charge and consequently adsorbs and remains fixed. Thus, subsequent polyelectrolyte chains must first diffuse through the adsorbed polyelectrolyte layer before adsorbing to the next available bulk charges. This behavior differs from earlier suggested diffusion mechanisms, by which polyelectrolytes were assumed to first adsorb to the outermost surface and then reptate into the pore structure. The time scales for polyelectrolyte diffusion were highly dependent on the flexibility of the chain, which was estimated from calculations of the persistence length. The persistence length ultimately depended on the charge density and electrolyte concentration. The charge density of the polyelectrolyte had a greater influence on the time scales for diffusion. High charge density polyelectrolytes were observed to diffuse on a time scale of months, whereas the diffusion of low charge density polyelectrolytes was measured on the order of hours. An influence of the chain length, that is, steric interactions due the persistence length of the polyelectrolyte and to the tortuosity of the porous structure of the fiber wall, could only be noted for low charge density polyelectrolytes. Increasing the electrolyte concentration increased the chain flexibility by screening the electrostatic contribution to the persistence length, in turn inducing a faster diffusion process. However, a significant change in the diffusion behavior was observed at high electrolyte concentrations, at which the interaction between the polyelectrolyte charges and the fiber charges was almost completely screened.     

Performance Criteria for Compositions Based on Cationic Polyelectrolytes as Reagents for Treating Wastewaters from Pulp-and-Paper Works

Colloid-chemical properties of cationic polyelectrolytes and their mixtures with iron(III) chloride are studied, including the viscosity, adsorption on the cellulose surface, capillary imbibition and rise, and apparent charge density on the polymer. Selection criteria are proposed for polyelectrolytes as reagents for thickening and compaction of sludge from pulp-and-paper works.     

Adsorption of chlorhexidine onto cellulosic fibers

Comparative investigations of adsorption properties of chlorhexidine (CHX) on two cellulose fibers, bleached cotton and viscose, were studied in order to obtain dry gauzes covered with known amount of this antiseptic. Adsorption isotherm results carried out at 293 and 323 K can be described by Langmuir isotherm model, nevertheless, at high concentration correlation is better to Freundlich isotherm. Electrokinetic potential evolution with CHX concentration, shows that initial negative zeta potential of cotton and viscose diminish its absolute value as the concentration of the treatment increases; both fibers present an isoelectric point at high concentration of CHX that is 0.3 mM for viscose and 0.8 mM for cotton. Electrostatic interactions between cationic groups of CHX and carboxylic acid groups of the fibers could explain adsorption at low concentration, but when it is higher than these values, possible hydrogen bonding between the amine groups of CHX and hydroxyl groups of cellulose could explain increasing adsorption when it is hindered by electrostatic repulsion as it is predicted by Freundlich model, that describes heterogeneous surface and multilayer adsorption. Adsorption kinetics isotherms reveal that the process is quick with t _1/2 values of 5.4 min for cotton and 2.8 min for viscose. Differences in adsorption behaviour between the two fibers could be attributed to structural differences as we have observed from estimation of CI index based on FTIR spectra. Values obtained 1.6 for viscose and 2.2 for cotton could explain that the amount of CHX adsorbed on viscose is higher than it is on cotton. Finally desorption experiments performed with 0.01 M of NaCl solution at room temperature and pH 6 reveals the possibility of therapeutical application of these fibers although further investigations must be done to optimize the process.     

AFM of adsorbed polyelectrolytes on cellulose I surfaces spin-coated on silicon wafers

Thin layers of cellulose I nanocrystals were spin-coated onto silicon wafers to give a flat model cellulose surface. A mild heat treatment was required to stabilize the cellulose layer. Interactions of this surface with polyelectrolyte layers and multilayers were probed by atomic force microscopy in water and dilute salt solutions. Deflection–distance curves for standard silicon nitride tips were measured for silicon, cellulose-coated silicon, and for polyelectrolytes adsorbed on the cellulose surface. Transfer of polymer to the tip was checked by running deflection–distance curves against clean silicon. Deflection–distance curves were relatively insensitive to adsorbed polyelectrolyte, but salt addition caused transfer of cationic polyelectrolyte to the tip, and swelling of the polyelectrolyte multilayers.     

Electrokinetic properties of processed cellulose fibers

Natural cellulose fibers (cotton) comprise several noncellulose compounds (hemicellulose, wax and pectin substances) and cationic impurities which cause problems during different adsorption processes such as dying, or final fiber finishing and coating. Therefore the chemical purification (NaOH boiling, enzymatic purification, demineralization, extraction or oxidative bleaching) is the most important step in cellulose textile finishing. Alternative ways to describe the success of different processes in fiber purification which result in distinct surface charge and hydrophilicity are the determination of electrokinetic properties and the water uptake of textile fibers. The zeta-potential (ζ) was determined by streaming potential measurement as a function of the pH. From the ζ–pH functions the adsorption potential for all ionic species Φ_i (i.e. ( , in the case of potassium chloride solutions), the charge densities σ^k and the pK values are calculated according to the Börner and Jacobasch model.

The degradation and removal of hydrophobic noncellulose compounds which cover the primary hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of the cellulose polymer is clearly shown by an increase of the negative ζ of the plateau, which is in good agreement with the electrokinetic parameters of cotton samples determined by the Börner and Jacobasch model. The electrokinetic parameters determined by the Börner and Jacobasch model can be used to describe the adsorption/dissociation ability of textile fibers. The progress of the fiber processing (cleaning) is reflected by the surface charge as well as the hydrophilicity of the fiber.     

Effect of cationic polyacrylamides on the interactions between cellulose fibers

The interaction between cellulose fibers in the presence of cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) was analyzed by rheology as a function of polyelectrolyte concentration, charge density, and molecular weight. CPAM was found to strongly influence the yield stress of cellulose suspensions; low doses of CPAM increased the yield stress, but at higher concentrations the yield stress declined. The charge density of the CPAM was the most significant factor in how yield stress responded to CPAM concentration; this effect was able to be normalized to a master curve by considering only the charged fraction of the polymer. The molecular weight of CPAM samples had some effect at high concentrations, but for lower CPAM doses the yield stress was independent of molecular weight over the range studied. The data suggest that CPAM modifies the interaction between cellulose surfaces via several mechanisms, with electrostatic interactions in the form of charge neutralization and charged patch formation dominating; polymer bridging and steric repulsion also influence the overall balance of forces between interacting cellulose fibers.     

Preparation of Langmuir/Blodgett-cellulose Surfaces by Using Horizontal Dipping Procedure. Application for Polyelectrolyte Adsorption Studies Performed with QCM-D

A method of preparing model cellulose surfaces by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique with horizontal dipping procedure has been developed. The primary aim for the use of these surfaces was adsorption studies performed with the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) instrument. Hydrophobised cellulose (trimethylsilyl cellulose, TMSC) was deposited on the hydrophobic, polystyrene-coated QCM-D crystal. After 15 dipping cycles, the TMSC film fully covers the crystal surface. TMSC can easily be hydrolysed back to cellulose with acid hydrolysis. With this method a smooth, rigid, thin and reproducible cellulose film was obtained. Its morphology, coverage, chemical composition and wetting was further characterised using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurements. The swelling behaviour and the stability of the cellulose film in aqueous solutions at different ionic strengths were studied using the QCM-D instrument. The swelling/deswelling properties of the cellulose film were those expected of polyelectrolytes with low charge density; some swelling occurred in pure water and the swelling decreased when the ionic strength was increased. No significant layer softening was detected during the swelling. The effect of electrolyte concentration and polymer charge density on the adsorption of cationic polyelectrolytes on the cellulose surface was also investigated. At low electrolyte concentration less of the highly charged PDADMAC was adsorbed as compared to low charged C-PAM. The adsorbed amount of PDADMAC increased with increasing ionic strength and a more compact layer was formed while the effect of electrolyte concentration on the adsorption of C-PAM was not as pronounced.     

The build-up of polyelectrolyte multilayers of microfibrillated cellulose and cationic polyelectrolytes

A new type of nanocellulosic material has been prepared by high-pressure homogenization of carboxymethylated cellulose fibers followed by ultrasonication and centrifugation. This material had a cylindrical cross-section as shown by transmission electron microscopy with a diameter of 5-15 nm and a length of up to 1 microm. Calculations, using the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, showed that the surface potential was between 200 and 250 mV, depending on the pH, the salt concentration, and the size of the fibrils. They also showed that the carboxyl groups on the surface of the nanofibrils are not fully dissociated until the pH has reached pH = approximately 10 in deionized water. Calculations of the interaction between the fibrils using the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory and assuming a cylindrical geometry indicated that there is a large electrostatic repulsion between these fibrils, provided the carboxyl groups are dissociated. If the pH is too low and/or the salt concentration is too high, there will be a large attraction between the fibrils, leading to a rapid aggregation of the fibrils. It is also possible to form polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) by combining different types of polyelectrolytes and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). In this study, silicon oxide surfaces were first treated with cationic polyelectrolytes before the surfaces were exposed to MFC. The build-up of the layers was monitored with ellipsometry, and they show that it is possible to form very well-defined layers by combinations of MFC and different types of polyelectrolytes and different ionic strengths of the solutions during the adsorption of the polyelectrolyte. A polyelectrolyte with a three-dimensional structure leads to the build-up of thick layers of MFC, whereas the use of a highly charged linear polyelectrolyte leads to the formation of thinner layers of MFC. An increase in the salt concentration during the adsorption of the polyelectrolyte results in the formation of thicker layers of MFC, indicating that the structure of the adsorbed polyelectrolyte has a large influence on the formation of the MFC layer. The films of polyelectrolytes and MFC were so smooth and well-defined that they showed clearly different interference colors, depending on the film thickness. A comparison between the thickness of the films, as measured with ellipsometry, and the thickness estimated from their colors showed good agreement, assuming that the films consisted mainly of solid cellulose with a refractive index of 1.53. Carboxymethylated MFC is thus a new type of nanomaterial that can be combined with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes to form well-defined layers that may be used to form, for example, new types of sensor materials.     

Effect of polyelectrolytes and polyelectrolyte mixtures on the electrokinetic potential of dispersed particles. 1. Electrokinetic potential of polystyrene particles in solutions of surfactants, polyelectrolytes and their mixtures

The effect of cationic and anionic surfactants, as well as cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes (PE), their binary mixtures on the electrokinetic potential of monodisperse carboxylated polystyrene (PS) particles as a function of the reagents dose, pH, the charge density (CD) of polymers, the surfactant/PE and binary PE mixture composition, and sequence of components addition to the suspension has been studied. It has been shown that addition of increasing amount of anionic surfactant/polyelectrolytes increases the absolute value of the negative zeta-potential of PS particles; this increase is stronger the CD of the PE and pH of the system are higher. Adsorption of cationic surfactant/polyelectrolytes leads to a significant decrease in the negative ζ-potential and to overcharging the particles; changes in the ζ-potential are more pronounced for PE samples with higher CD and for suspensions with lower pH values. In mixtures of cationic and anionic PE, in a wide range of mixture composition, the ζ-potential of particles is determined by the adsorbed amount of the anionic polymer independently of the CD of PEs and the sequence of addition of the mixture components. The isoelectric point of the surface is reached at the adsorbed amount of positive charges of PE that is approximately equal to the surface CD of particles. The laws observed were explained by features of macromolecules conformation in adsorbed mixed PE layers. Considerations about the role of coulombic and non-coulombic forces in the mechanism of anionic/cationic PE adsorption are presented.     

Comparison of multilayer formation between different cellulose nanofibrils and cationic polymers

The multilayer formation between polyelectrolytes of opposite charge offers possibility for creating new tailored materials. Exchanging one or both components for charged nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) further increases the variety of achievable properties. We explored this by introducing unmodified, low charged NFC and high charged TEMPO-oxidized NFC. Systematic evaluation of the effect of both NFC charge and properties of cationic polyelectrolytes on the structure of the multilayers was performed. As the cationic component cationic NFC was compared with two different cationic polyelectrolytes, poly(dimethyldiallylammoniumchloride) and cationic starch. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was used to monitor the multilayer formation and AFM colloidal probe microscopy (CPM) was further applied to probe surface interactions in order to gain information about fundamental interactions and layer properties. Generally, the results verified the characteristic multilayer formation between NFC of different charge and how the properties of formed multilayers can be tuned. However, the strong nonelectrostatic affinity between cellulosic fibrils was observed. CPM measurements revealed monotonically repulsive forces, which were in good correspondence with the QCM-D observations. Significant increase in adhesive forces was detected between the swollen high charged NFC.     

Characterization of polyelectrolyte multilayers by the streaming potential method

Polyelectrolyte multilayer adsorption on mica was studied by the streaming potential method in the parallel-plate channel setup. The technique was calibrated by performing model measurements of streaming potential by using monodisperse latex particles. Two types of polyelectrolytes were used in our studies: poly(allylamine) hydrochloride (PAH), of a cationic type, and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) of an anionic type, both having molecular weight of 70,000. The bulk characteristics of polymers were determined by measuring the specific density, diffusion coefficient for various ionic strengths, and zeta potential. These measurements as well as molecular dynamic simulations of chain shape and configurations suggested that the molecules assume an extended, wormlike shape in the bulk. Accordingly, the diffusion coefficient was interpreted in terms of a simple hydrodynamic model pertinent to flexible rods. These data allowed a proper interpretation of polyelectrolyte multilayer adsorption from NaCl solutions of various concentrations or from 10(-3) M Tris buffer. After completing a bilayer, periodic variations in the apparent zeta potential between positive and negative values were observed for multilayers terminated by PAH and PSS, respectively. These limiting zeta potential values correlated quite well with the zeta potential of the polymers in the bulk. The stability of polyelectrolyte films against prolonged washing (reaching 26 h) also was determined using the streaming potential method. It was demonstrated that the PSS layer was considerably more resistant to washing, compared to the PAH layer. It was concluded that the experimental data were consistent with the model postulating particle-like adsorption of polyelectrolytes with little chain interpenetration. It also was concluded that due to high sensitivity, the electrokinetic method applied can be effectively used for quantitative studies of polyelectrolyte adsorption, desorption, and reconformation.     

Polyelectrolyte adsorption layers studied by streaming potential and particle deposition

Adsorption of a cationic polyelectrolyte, polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH), having a molecular weight of 70,000 on mica was characterized by the streaming potential method and by deposition of negative polystyrene latex particles. Formation of PAH layers was followed by determining the apparent zeta potential of surface zeta as function of bulk PAH concentration. The zeta potential was calculated from the streaming potential measured in the parallel-plate channel formed by two mica plates precovered by the polyelectrolyte. The experimental data were expressed as the dependence of the reduced zeta potential zeta/zeta0 on the PAH coverage Theta(PAH), calculated using the convective diffusion theory. It was found that for the ionic strength of 10(-2) M, the dependence of zeta/zeta0 on Theta(PAH) can be reflected by the theoretical model formulated previously for surfaces covered by colloid particles. The electrokinetic measurements were complemented by particle deposition experiments on PAH-covered mica surfaces. A direct correlation between the polymer coverage and the initial deposition rate of particles, as well as the jamming coverage, was found. For ThetaPAH > 0.3 the initial deposition rate attained the value predicted from the convective diffusion theory for homogeneous surfaces. The initial deposition rates for surfaces modified by PAH were compared with previous experimental and theoretical results obtained for heterogeneous surfaces formed by preadsorption of colloid particles. It was revealed that negative latex deposition occurred at surfaces exhibiting negative apparent zeta potential, which explained the anomalous deposition of particles observed in previous works. It was suggested that the combined electrokinetic and particle deposition methods can be used for detecting adsorbed polyelectrolytes at surfaces for coverage range of a percent. This enables one to measure bulk polyelectrolyte concentrations at the level of 0.05 ppm.     

Influence of the nature of the stabilizing polymeric matrix on the self-organization of selenium nanoclusters

The size characteristics and formation kinetics of selenium-containing nanosystems based on various polymeric matrices (nonionic polymers: polyvinylpyrrolidone, oxyethylated cellulose; cationic polyelectrolyte: poly-N,N,N,N-trimethylmethacryloyloxyethylammonium methyl sulfate; anionic polyelectrolytes: poly-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, polymethacrylic acid) were studied by methods of molecular optics and spectrophotometry. The influence of the nature of the polymeric matrix and of the selenium: polymer weight ratio on the rate constant and hydrodynamic radius was determined.     

Synthesis,adsorption and adhesive properties of a cationic amphiphilic block copolymer for use as compatibilizer in composites

In this work, the objective was to synthesize a compatibilizer that can electrostatically adsorb onto cellulose fibers, in fiber-based composites, to enhance the interaction between the fibers and non-polar polymer matrices. This physical route to attach the compatibilizer onto and thereby modify a fiber surface is convenient since it can be performed in water under mild conditions. Polystyrene (PS) was used for the high molecular weight, non-polar, block and poly(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) was used as the polar block, which was subsequently quaternized to obtain cationic charges. The block copolymer self-assembles in water into cationic micelles and the adsorption to both silicon oxide surfaces and cellulose model surfaces was studied. The micelles spread out on the surface after heat treatment and contact angle measurements showed that the contact angles against water increased significantly after this treatment. AFM force measurements were performed with a PS probe to study the adhesive properties. The adhesion increased with increasing contact time for the treated surfaces, probably due to entanglements between the polystyrene blocks at the treated surface and the probe. This demonstrates that the use of this type of amphiphilic block copolymer is a promising route to improve the compatibility between charged reinforcing materials, such as cellulose-based fibers/fibrils, and hydrophobic matrices in composite materials.