Structure of polycomplexes composed of cross-linked sodium polyacrylate and cationic micelle-forming surfactants

The structure of polymer-surfactant complexes based on cross-linked sodium polyacrylate and various cation surfactants was studied by means of WAXS, SAXS and DSC. The polymer-surfactant complexes were shown to be composed of a set of charged lamellae of surfactant ions attached to the oppositely charged cross-linked polyelectrolyte via electrostatic interaction. Within lamellar aggregates, aliphatic radicals of surfactants with a hydrocarbon chain of sufficient length (16 carbon atoms or more) produce a crystalline hexagonal structure. The effect of the chemical nature of the surfactant, temperature, and water content of hydrogels on the structural parameters of polymer-surfactant complexes was studied