Complexes of octadecyltrimethylammonium polyacrilate: properties in solution, gel and solid forms

A polymer-surfactant complex was prepared by titration of aqueous poly sodium acrylate with stoichiometric amounts of octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. The resulting product is not water-soluble and does not dissolve in most polar and nonpolar liquids. According to preliminary X-ray findings, the complex is formed by an arrangement of alkyl chains around the polymer skeleton, packed into a layered structure. The complex forms an elastic gel in ethylene glycol and to a much lesser extent, in glycerol or tetrahydrofuran, but is hardly water-soluble. Application of the complex as a hydrophobic modifier of surfaces can be considered.