Rheologic Properties and Molecular Configuration of Polymers in Salt-Alkali-Surfactant Mixed Solutions.

With the vacuum sublimation freezing-drying and rheological techniques, the salt/alkali/surfactant effects on the solution properties and the aggregate conformations of the polymers, synthesized hydrophobically modified poly (acrylamide) (HMPAM), were investigated. The experimental methods included viscosity measurements, the photomicroscopy, scan electron microscopy, and the freeze fracture transmission electron microscopy. The variety of conformations of the ultramolecular aggregates, the hydrophobical region, and the spatial network structures resulted from the hydrophobical interaction were studied. Combined results confirmed that HMPAM could form several of interesting three-dimensional network structures either in distilled water or NaCl solution. The results have revealed the mechanism of the salt/alkali/surfactant effects on the peculiar rheological properties of the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]