PA21 Thermo-responsive behavior of liquid-crystalline polyelectrolytes based on poly(4-styrenesulfonate)s

Abstract

We have prepared the poly(styrenesulfonate)s with various metal and quaternary ammonium ions as a counter ion. In the copolymers with a suitable compositional ratio, which show both liquid-crystalline and water-soluble properties, they possessed a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water. It was found that the polysulfonates act as a thermo-responsive polymer in spite of the polyelectrolytes. Furthermore, we have investigated the effect of the compositional ratio in the copolymers, the concentration of polymer solution, and the counter ions on the thermo-responsive behavior of the poly(styrenesulfonate)s.