POLYMERIZABLE VISCOELASTIC FLUIDS

Rheological, elongational flow, and scanning electron microscopy measurements have been performed on cationic monomers associated with specific counterions. The monomers are formed through the reaction of allyl bromide and a variety of dimethylalkylamine derivatives. The results show that above a specific monomer–counterion concentration, highly elongated structures are formed in solution. These structures are adequately described as polymerizable rod‐like micelles. The physical properties of these fluids are interpreted in terms of a micellar sphere to rod transition which gradually occurs over a specific concentration range (>1g/dL, in general). At higher concentrations, these rod‐like entities are capable of interacting with each other. Therefore, even though the forces holding the structures together are certainly weaker than a chemical bond, polymeric‐like properties are observed in these polymerizable viscoelastic fluids. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.