Patent ID: 8372891

Claim:
A method for modifying a complex shear modulus of an article comprising a polyelectrolyte complex, the polyelectrolyte complex being an intermolecular blend of a predominantly positively-charged polyelectrolyte polymer and a predominantly negatively charged polyelectrolyte polymer and containing at least about 20 wt. % water, the method comprising: contacting the article with a first solution to increase the doping level ratio in the polyelectrolyte complex from a first salt doping level ratio to a second doping level ratio, whereby increasing the doping level ratio in the polyelectrolyte complex decreases the complex shear modulus of the polyelectrolyte complex from a first complex shear modulus to a second complex shear modulus; applying a mechanical force to compact the polyelectrolyte complex into a persistent shape at the second complex shear modulus; contacting the compacted polyelectrolyte complex with a second solution to change the doping level ratio in the polyelectrolyte complex from the second doping level ratio to a third doping level ratio, whereby changing the doping level ratio in the polyelectrolyte complex changes the complex shear modulus of the polyelectrolyte complex from the second complex shear modulus to a third complex shear modulus.