Interfacial rheology of polyelectrolytes and polymer monolayers at the air–water interface

In this review, we describe interfacial rheology studies of polymer monolayers at the air–water interface. Since polyelectrolytes are usually soluble in water, the formation of surface monolayers requires the presence of a surfactant of opposite charge. The first part of the review is dedicated to these mixed monolayers. The second part is related to neutral monolayers that can be either adsorbed or deposited at the interface. Interfacial rheology studies of these systems are still scarce, despite a considerable interest: insoluble polymer monolayers in two dimensions are suitable model systems for the tests of polymer theories in two dimensions, such as and glass transition. The rheology of soluble polymer monolayers has important connections with the dynamic properties of dispersions stabilized with these polymers.