ABSTRACT
A polyelectrolyte is a polymer that has charged monomers of one sign. Because of the variety of ways charges can be placed on a polymer, there is a wide range of polyelectrolytes with a corresponding range of applications. Polyelectrolytes thus comprise one of the most important classes of molecules. DNA is the most well known example, and some of its properties depend on the charged polymeric structure [Williams 2000; Schiessel 2003]. Polyacrylic acid is a common industrial polyelectrolyte, which is the main ingredient in disposable diapers. One of the common uses for synthetic polyelectrolytes is stabilization of colloids [Napper 1983]. In this case the polyelectrolytes are grafted onto the surface. One of the main polyelectrolytes in experimental studies is sodium polystyrene sulfonate (NaPSS). Just about every monomer is charged in NaPSS, which makes it a strong polyelectrolyte. Polyacrylic acid is an example of a weak polyelectrolyte, which has relatively long separation of charges on the backbone.
