Abstract: | Dilute solution viscosity, solid‐state rheometry, and 1H‐NMR linewidth analyses are used to assess the effect of ion–dipole (R′OH/NR Br?) interactions on the intensity of ion‐pair aggregation within a series of new isobutylene‐based tetraalkylammomium bromide ionomers. While inductive/field effects on hydroxyl group polarization exert no appreciable influence on ionomer properties, sparingly‐soluble, hydrogen‐bonding additives are shown to relieve heightened aggregation by interacting selectively with bound ion‐pairs as opposed to the bulk polymer matrix. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5671–5679, 2005 |