Interpenetration of Interacting Polyelectrolytes

The structure of aggregates formed by oppositely charged polyelectrolytes of the same chain length N and charge density and the kinetics of the formation of these aggregates have been studied using a dynamic Monte Carlo algorithm. The model considers the evolution of chains through local motion of monomers and exhibits the complex behavior associated with the formation of such aggregates. The chains interpenetrate in two distinct steps-the chains first diffuse toward each other and then collapse abruptly to form smaller aggregates. This abrupt collapse is a consequence of cooperativity in the aggregation process