Solution properties of a rigid-rod polyelectrolyte

In this research the aqueous solution properties of poly(N,N{dollar}spprime{dollar}-(sulfo) phenylene terephthalamide) were studied in order to evaluate its use as an oil recovery polymer. It was also hypothesized that the ionic moieties on this rigid-rod polymer could act as ionic cross-links and improve the otherwise poor compressional strength of poly(phenylene terephthalamide). Some derivatives of this ionic polymer were also synthesized by grafting hydroxyalkyl groups onto the sulfonate group.; The polymer was synthesized through a solution polycondensation reaction and attempts were made to optimize molecular weight by varying acid scavenger concentration, concentration of reactants, LiCl concentration and neutralization of starting materials with sodium and lithium hydroxide.; Brookfield and zero shear viscosity were used to study the concentrated solution properties of this polymer and the effect of various alkali earth metals on its inter- and intramolecular associations. It was shown that the largest unhydrated ions have the greatest effect on the solubility and viscosity of the polymer due to their ability to form multiple site bindings. Unlike a sulfonated flexible chain analog this binding was predominantly if not exclusively intermolecular. This lead to high degrees of aggregation and eventually precipitation of the polymer. It was shown that the smaller unhydrated ions acted as more of a diffuse ionic layer while the larger participated in a 1:1 ionic site binding. Some graft polymers were synthesized, but the properties of these need further investigation.