Dependency of polyelectrolyte complex stoichiometry on the order of addition. 1. Effect of salt concentration during streaming current titrations with strong poly-acid and polybase

Titrations were carried out between solutions of a strong poly-acid (polyvinyl sulfate, potassium salt) and a strong poly-base (poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (poly-DADMAC)) over a range of salt concentrations. Streaming current (SC) analysis of the titration endpoints appeared to show increasing deviations from 1:1 stoichiometry of complexation with increased salt. The results depended on the direction of the titration, such that a stoichiometric excess of the titrant (second additive) was required to achieve a SC reading of zero. These symmetrical results, depending on the order of addition, were obtained despite the fact that the plastic surfaces of the SC device had a slight negative charge and differing adsorption tendencies for the two kinds of polymer. A qualitative model of molecular events, based on non-equilibrium entrapment of non-complexed polymer segments was found to be inconsistent with results of tests carried out over a range of initial polymer concentration. Results were better described by a qualitative model involving formation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) in solution, in which near-stoichiometric core complexes are stabilized by an excess of the second additive on their surface. Implications of the latter model were compared with the results of turbidimetric tests, aqueous contact angles on polymer-treated plastic surfaces, and microelectrophoresis of PECs. Results of this study have consequences for interpretation of polyelectrolyte titrations, as well as for industrial operations that involve the mixing of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.