Abstract
Abstract It is shown that the reaction between poly(acrylic acid) and a non‐ionic polymer may give two different products. One of them is the well‐known interpolymer complex stabilized by hydrogen bonds, and the other belongs to a relatively new class of compounds named hydrophilic interpolymer associates. Networks occurring in the dynamic mode of formation and destruction of hydrogen bond linkages represent the structure of the hydrophilic associates; a single molecule of polyacid may be linked with two or more molecules of non‐ionic polymer in such associates. The result of the reaction under consideration strongly depends on the ratio of volumes of swollen coils of ionogenic and electrically neutral macromolecules. Classical interpolymer complexes cannot be formed at a high degree of swelling of polyacid coils, which takes place at high pH values. In contrast, hydrophilic associates are formed under such conditions. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry