Interaction of poly(acrylic acid) with poly(1-vinylimidazole)

The reaction between poly( 1-vinylimidazole) and poly(acrylic acid) with various extents of neutralization was studied by potentiometric titration and IR spectroscopy. It was shown that an interpolymer complex stabilized by hydrogen bonds is formed at the extent of polyacid neutralization varying in the range from 0 to 0.9. When the extent of polyacid neutralization is above 0.9, the interpolymer complex is formed through a donor-acceptor interaction between the imidazole units and the carboxylate anions. It is demonstrated that the chemical nature and the concentration of the alkali-metal ion affect the extent and the character of interpolymer interactions.