STUDIES OF ADSORBED POLYMER LAYERS BY EXCHANGE-REACTIONS OF SEQUENTIALLY ADSORBED POLYMERS

Adsorbed polyelectrolyte layers have been built up on latex particles by sequential addition of nonlabeled and fluorescently labeled cationic polyacrylamides. The subsequent exchange of the adsorbed labeled polyelectrolytes with nonlabeled polyelectrolytes in solution has been studied. The exchange results indicate that up to an adsorbed amount corresponding to approximately 85% charge neutralization, the conformation of the adsorbed polymer does not change. When the labeled polyacrylamide is added close to charge neutralization, the subsequent exchange reaction proceeds more rapidly, probably due to a more looped configuration of the adsorbed molecules.