Abstract
The published experimental data on the interpolymer reactions that involve nonionic polymers and poly(carboxylic acids) in aqueous solutions in the presence of low-molecular-mass electrolytes have been analyzed. A theoretical approach that allows one to interpret the character and direction of a shift in the critical pH values of the complexation reaction due to the effect of low-molecular-mass electrolyte has been proposed. It has been found that the character of interactions between poly(carboxylic acids) and nonionic polymers in the presence of a low-molecular-mass salt is significantly influenced by the processes of local ion exchange resulting in the heterogeneous distribution of low-molecular-mass ions throughout the solution volume.