The aqueous solution properties of an ampholytic naphthalenelabelled acrylamide/N,N-dimethyl maleimido propyl ammonium propane sulphonate copolymer, poly(ADMMAPS)/NA, are examined in this study by measuring reduced and intrinsic viscosities. The intrinsic viscosity of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA is related to the type and concentration of the salt added. This behaviour, resulting from the associations of the polymer chains, is in contrast with cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. Smaller anions, such as F~, with a common cation (K) are found to be the most difficult to be bound to the sulphonate group, indicating that a lower intrinsic viscosity of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA would be found in aqueous KF solution. Smaller cations, such as Li, with a common anion (Cl~) are found to be the most difficult to be bound to the quaternary ammonium group, indicating that a lower intrinsic viscosity of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA would be found in LiCl salt aqueous solution. Because a naphthalene label was introduced into the polymer, the behaviour of the solution properties of the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA could be clearly deรned in term of macroscopic and microscopic analysis. The models proposed in this study can account for the poly(ADMMAPS)/NA solution viscosities.
1998 SCI.