LAUSR

In this research paper, we intend to describe some characteristics and properties of polyelectrolyte as well as its specific behavior in mixed media. We have studied the behavior of poly (sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) in water/ethanol media under temperature, concentration and non-solvent (ethanol) addition effects by conductivity and refractive index measurements. The average molecular weight of PSS was about 1,000,000 g mol−1. In the first part of this work, we have tested the validity of the Manning’s theory for this system, where the equivalent conductivity was calculated over the temperature and concentration range. A major discrepancy between the experimental and the calculated equivalent conductivity was observed. In a second part, we have measured the refractive indices of PSS in water/ethanol mixtures. The specific volumes of PSS were deduced according to Lorentz-Lorenz equation for all the mixture’s compositions and the studied temperature range. A correlation between the PSS structure and the variation of its specific volume was shown.