ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION When a polymeric electrolyte is dissolved in water it can ionize completely or to some extent, depending on the nature of the functional groups. Strong poly electrolytes, for example poly(styrenesulfonic acid), are representatives of the first class. Weak polyelectrolytes belong to the second class. The majority of the weak polyacids are carboxylic acids, and practically all prop erties of interest in the field of polyelectrolytes have been accumulated for their simplest representatives, such as poly (aery lie acid). The poly ion charge of weak polyacids can be varied by titration with a strong base. As a con sequence, the properties of these polymeric species are gradually changing from those of an uncharged polymer to those of a typical poly electrolyte.
