Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – Ion-exchange polymer or process of preparing
Patent
1997-02-12
1999-01-26
Cain, Edward J.
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
Ion-exchange polymer or process of preparing
521 32, C08F 2002
Patent
active
058639560
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel mesomorphic complexes of anionic polyelectrolytes, cationic polyelectrolytes and/or polyampholytes and cationic, anionic, nonionic and/or amphoteric surfactants. The invention further relates to methods for preparing them and to films, sheets, fibers, moldings and coatings therefrom.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is known that polyelectrolyte complexes form spontaneously between polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged surfactants. The formation of complexes between polyelectrolytes and nonionic surfactants has likewise been described. Most of the relevant publications deal with aqueous solutions of these complexes, whereas but little is known about the properties and the structure of such polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes as solids.
EP-A 492 188 (1) describes solid, amorphous complexes of polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged surface-active agents which can be used as sorbents for treating water contaminated with organic compounds. Herein the complexes are obtained as precipitates by means of the polyelectrolyte and the surfactant being mixed in a solvent or by the polyelectrolyte being prepared in a solution of the surfactant via polymerization.
DD-A 270 012 (2) describes the preparation of membranes composed of a polyelectrolyte complex comprising cellulose sulfate and a cationic surfactant The membranes are prepared by a film of cellulose sulfate being precipitated with an aqueous solution of the cationic surfactant to produce an amorphous polyelectrolyte complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The materials, such as films or membranes, composed of these amorphous polyelectrolyte complexes are often still in need of improvement with respect to their mechanical, thermal or application characteristics. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide such materials having improved characteristics.
We have found that this object is achieved by means of the mesomorphic complexes of polyelectrolytes and surfactants as defined at the outset.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The term "mesomorphic" in this context refers to substances or materials which have a mesomorphic phase, ie. a liquid-crystalline structure, and in which--at least in certain domains--an ordered arrangement of the molecular building blocks or an ordered arrangement of the supramolecular aggregates is present. They differ from amorphous substances or materials, for example, in that, owing to their anisotropy, they have special optical properties.
Clearly, in this case, for a number of applications the orientation or ordered arrangement of the molecular building blocks and supramolecular aggregates in a mesoscopic or larger dimension is most advantageous. The order parameter of the material affects, inter alia, the mechanical, thermal and also the optical properties of the material in question.
The orientation of the molecular building blocks and of the supramolecular aggregates compared with the corresponding amorphous material, therefore in this case results in an improvement in the application properties being achieved or even in the emergence of novel, desirable characteristics.
The mesomorphic structure of the novel polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes can be detected unambiguously by means of small-angle X-ray diffractometry. This shows one or more narrow scattering peaks which characterize a liquid-crystalline morphology. Furthermore, photographs obtained by polarizing microscope under crossed polarizers for the majority of mesomorphic structures indicates typical textures of birefringent domain structures.
The novel mesomorphic complexes of polyelectrolytes and surfactants comprise one polyelectrolyte or a mixture of a plurality of polyelectrolytes and one surfactant or a mixture of a plurality of surfactants. Said complexes may preferably be composed nonionic surf actants or nonionic surfactants or polyampholytes and one or more nonionic surfactants or nonionic surfactants.
The term polyampholytes is
REFERENCES:
patent: 4501835 (1985-02-01), Berke
Antonietti Markus
Conrad Juergen
Kistenmacher Axel
BASF - Aktiengesellschaft
Cain Edward J.
LandOfFree
Mesomorphic complexes of polyelectrolytes and surfactants, proce does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Mesomorphic complexes of polyelectrolytes and surfactants, proce, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mesomorphic complexes of polyelectrolytes and surfactants, proce will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1450845