Interaction between poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(acrylic acid)s: Influence of hydrogen and cupric ions on the adduct formation

Interpolymer adduct formation between poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) is mainly due to hydrogen bonding. It is found that the interpolymer adduct formation is enhanced in the presence of Cu(II). A simple turbidity measurement making use of a spectrophotofluorometer is described for the study of the interpolymer adduct formation. Enhanced adduct formation in the presence of Cu(II) is described by the empirical relation dPAd]/DPVP] = k × 10^4αCu(II)]^α, where PAd represents the interpolymer adduct and α and k are constants. Similar results have been obtained in the case of interpolymer adduct formation between poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and PVP. In the above expression α signifies the influence of chelation on Cu(II)–PAA/PMAA–PVP-type complex formation and k is the extent of PVP–PAA/PMAA interaction. The enhancement of adduct formation in the presence of Cu(II) is more in PAA than in PMAA. Turbidity and viscosity measurements further indicate that the influence of Cu(II) on interpolymer adduct formation between PVP and PMAA or PAA is more in the case of PAA than PMAA, as PAA is a better chelating ligand. But the extent of adduct formation is more in the case of PMAA in the absence of Cu(II) ions due to hydrophobic interactions exerted by methyl groups.