Quantification of the lower critical solution temperature phase diagram of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates

ORAL

Abstract

Measurements on a common aqueous oppositely-charged polyelectrolyte complex, potassium-poly(styrene sulfonate) and poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium bromide), shows liquid-liquid phase separation upon heating, or lower critical solution temperature behavior. The experimental accessibility of the apparent critical temperatures occurs for a narrow range of monovalent KBr salt concentration. We will show new static and dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering results and discuss how the correlation length, osmotic compressibility, and relaxation times change as the coexistence curve is approached by increasing temperature. The measurements of the binodal and spinodal curves from these associating polyelectrolyte solutions are compared to available mean field models.

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Presenters

  • Yuanchi Ma

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

Authors

  • Yuanchi Ma

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Samim Ali

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Yimin Mao

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Debra Audus

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD

  • Vivek Prabhu

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899