Decoration of semidilute polymer solutions with surfactant micelles

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Abstract
Aqueous polymer solutions can be decorated with surfactant micelles which bind to the polymer strands. The elementary process wraps a section of a macromolecule around a micelle ; if the macromolecule is long enough, it clothes many micelles and connects them by free strands. Here we consider semidilute polymer solutions, where macromolecules of poly (ethylene oxide) form an irregular web throughout the sample. Sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles are added to the solution ; because of their electrostatic repulsions they tend to form a 3-dimensional array which is coupled to the web through the binding. The structures of such decorated webs are studied through small angle neutron scattering ; depending on the composition of the solution, 3 patterns of correlations are found : adaptation of the web to the original intermicellar spacings, disruption of the intermicellar spacings by the web, spillover of excess micelles by saturated necklaces