Molecular properties and electrostatic interactions of linear poly(allylamine hydrochloride) chains

The efficiency of two azoinitiators in the polymerization of allylamine salts in water and organic solvents was studied comparatively. Hydrodynamic and molecular properties of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) in 0.1 M NaCl were investigated in the molecular mass range 18 < M-sD x 10(-3)(g/mol) < 65. Molecular mass relationships were obtained for intrinsic viscosity ([eta]), translation diffusion coefficient (DO) and velocity sedimentation coefficient (so): [eta] = 7.65 x 10(-3) Mo-0.8 +/- 0.1, D-0 = 2.41 x 10(-4) M-((0.59 +/- 0.05)), s(0) = 2.77 x 10(-15) M-0.41 +/- 0.05. Hydrodynamic data were interpreted by using the concept of electrostatic short- and long-range interactions. The equilibrium rigidity of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) chains in 0.1 M NaCl and structural and electrostatic contributions to it were quantitatively evaluated. It was shown that in pure water the conformation of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) chains is close to rod-like.