Microscopic structure and viscosity behaviours of ion-complexed polymer gels

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Congo Red (PVA-CR) complexes in aqueous solutions have a unique sol-gel transition behaviour. At an appropriate PVA concentration, a sol-gel-sol-gel type reentrant transition takes place with increasing CR concentration. The microscopic structure and Theological properties of these complexes were investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and viscometry.