Effect of acid-base equilibria on the fractional charge and conformational properties of polyelectrolyte solutions

Abstract

A self consistent polymer reference interaction site model theory with random phase approximation was used to study the effect of acid-base equilibria on the fractional charge and conformational properties of polyelectrolyte solutions. The observed electrostatic repulsion and short ranged attraction were due to the charged and protonated sites which are assumed in each monomer. The attractive interactions were found to have a significant impact on the polymer properties.