Abstract
The incorporation of metal ion into the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film of an itaconate copolymer was investigated. The polymer was prepared via radical copolymerization of monooctadecyl itaconate with triethyleneglycol methyl vinyl ether. The metal ions employed were Na+, Cs+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Al3+, and Fe3+. The surface pressure-area isotherms indicated that all the monolayers studied on subphases with metal ions showed more expanded areas than that observed on pure water. The monolayers showed an irreversible collapse behavior. The collapse pressure of the monolayers was low on subphases containing trivalent metal ions. From the FT-IR spectra by reflection and transmission modes, the formation of carboxylate salts and the uprisen orientation of the pendant against substrate surface in the polymer LB film were determined. It was estimated by XPS measurement that ca. 13.1 repeat units of the polymer contain one Na+ ion, while one Mg2+ ion corresponds to 5.9 carboxyls.