Model analysis of surfactant--polymer interaction as cooperative ligand binding to linear lattice.

An improved model of the cooperative binding of monomeric ligands to a linear lattice is proposed for the analysis of surfactant association on the polymer. The interaction between bound ligands across an unoccupied site as well as the steric hindrance effect in consecutive bindings is taken into account here. Typical results of the model calculations are represented, and several least squares fittings of the binding isotherms of the ionic surfactant-polyelectrolyte systems are attempted. The characteristic binding behavior in those systems is interpretable by the feasible model of the interactions between surfactant molecules. The advantages and limitations of the analysis using this model also are discussed.