INTERACTION OF IONIC SURFACTANTS WITH POLYETHYLENE OXIDE IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS

For the system consisting of polyethylene oxide and an ionic surfactant, the viscosity, surface tension, and counterion activity have been determined as functions of the concentration of the mixture components. Values have been calculated for the intrinsic viscosity, the Huggins constant, the effective volume, and the mean square radius of gyration of the polyethylene oxide macromolecules, with and without added surfactant. It is shown that the addition of the surfactant brings about a loosening of the macromolecules as a result of the formation of like-charged micellar structures on the macromolecular chain.