An amphiphilic poly(ether amide) consisting of hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) amide blocks was prepared from the copolymerization of sebacic acid and two poly(oxyalkylene) diamines including a poly(oxyethylene) diamine (POE-amine at 2000 M-w) and a poly(oxypropylene) diamine (POP-amine at 230 M-w). The copolymer was estimated to have an average molecular weight of 15,000 M-w(GPC) or approximately three hydrophilic POE segments per strain. The presence of POE segments rendered polymer hydrophilicity and complexing ability for Li+, K+, Ca+2, Ni+2, Pd+2, and Cu+2 salts. In particular, lithium perchlorate affected the copolymer to the greatest extent in enhancing electrostatic dissipation or reducing surface resistivity as low as 10(5.0) Omega/sq (cross-sectional area) at 1/180 Li+/EO from 10(7.2) Omega/sq (without metal ion). In such a metal complexation, the copolymer showed a new POE segmental crystalline phase at a melting temperature between -10.4 and -14degreesC, accompanied with the metal-free original phase of -31degreesC. In static toluene/water, the metal ions had no effect on the copolymer surfactancy in lowering the interfacial tension, reaching 4.4 dyn/cm at a critical micelle concentration (cmc) of 0.01 wt%. When mixing toluene and water, the lithium or nickel ions were found to be detrimental to the emulsifying process. Without the metal ion, fine droplets at average sizes of 4.5-5.0 mum were observed in the copolymer/toluene/water emulsification. These amphiphilic behaviors of the POE-segmented polyamide with or without metal ions were explained by the competing noncovalent bonding interactions among POE/metal ion/water.