title: Two-phase structure of polyelectrolyte gel/surfactant complexes.
abstract: The behavior of lightly cross-linked polyelectrolyte hydrogel swelling in the solution of oppositely charged surfactants is studied theoretically. It is shown that if there is a lack of surfactant in the solution intragel separation into two phases differing in swelling ratios and surfactant content can take place. The surfactant ions concentrate and form micelles in a part of the gel and this part collapses while the rest of the gel remains swollen. The two-phase region widens with an increase of ionization degree of the gel subchains.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tararyshkin
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kramarenko
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khokhlov