VISCOSITY BEHAVIOR OF POLY(GLYCERYL METHACRYLATE) IN THE PRESENCE OF BORATE AND PHENYLBORONATE IONS

The viscosity behavior of polyelectrolyte solutions induced by borate or phenylboronate complexation with poly(glyceryl methacrylate) (PGM) has been investigated. In dilute solutions borate ions can form monodiol (1/1) complexes and didiol (2/1) intramolecular complexes. Both types of complex are anionic. Thus, the polymer is characterized by the existence of char ed sites on b the chain and loops formed by intramolecular complexation. On the contrary, phenylboronate can only give monodiol 1/1 complexes. In the presence of passive salt, the charges are screened. By addition of borate ion to a PGM solution, a decrease of the initial polymer viscosity due to loop formation is first observed, then the anionic charges fixed on the chain by complex formation induce an expansion of the polyelectrolyte and the viscosity of the solution increases. The situation is different for the PGM-phenyl boronate system, where no intramolecular crosslink is present. In this case the viscosity of the solution increases with phenyl boronate concentration. But for a fixed complexing ion concentration it will tend to that of the neutral polymer when NaCl is added. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.