Branched polymers dilute solution viscosity

Relationships between dilute solution viscosity and MW have been determined for many hyperbranched systems and the Mark-Houwink constant typically varies between 0.5 and 0.2, depending on the DB. In contrast, the exponent is typically in the region of 0.6-0.8 for linear homopolymers in a good solvent with a random coil conformation. The contraction factors [84], g=< g >branched/ <-Rg >iinear. =[ l]branched/[ l]iinear. are another Way of cxprcssing the compact structure of branched polymers. Experimentally, g is computed from the intrinsic viscosity ratio at constant MW. The contraction factor can be expressed as the averaged value over the MWD or as a continuous fraction of MW. 

Two basic theoretical models exist to describe the degree of long-chain branching in dilute solution. According to the nondraining model depicted by Zimm and Kilb (25) and Kilb (26), the ratio of intrinsic viscosities of branched and linear polymers is given by ... 

Dilute solution viscosities can provide additional infonnation on mechanochemistry. It has been suggested, for example, that the Huggins constant [38], from concentration dependence of solution viscosity, is dependent on chain branching [39]. This may be true, yet at best the effect is small. Moreover, this concept has not been tested for a range of polymers and branching. 

With appropriate caUbration the complex characteristic impedance at each resonance frequency can be calculated and related to the complex shear modulus, G, of the solution. Extrapolations to 2ero concentration yield the intrinsic storage and loss moduH [G ] and [G"], respectively, which are molecular properties. In the viscosity range of 0.5-50 mPa-s, the instmment provides valuable experimental data on dilute solutions of random coil (291), branched (292), and rod-like (293) polymers. The upper limit for shearing frequency for the MLR is 800 H2. High frequency (20 to 500 K H2) viscoelastic properties can be measured with another instmment, the high frequency torsional rod apparatus (HFTRA) (294). 

Branching Parameter g from. SEC/LALLS. The effect of polymer branching upon the dilute solution configuration of polymers is conveniently expressed as the ratio of intrinsic viscosities of branched and linear polymers of the same chemical composition and molecular weight (35), i.e.. 

This work examines the effect of long-chain branching on the low-shear concentrated solution viscosity of polybutadienes over a broad range of molecular weights and polydispersity. It will show that the reduction in molecular coil dimension arising from long-chain branching is more sensitively measured in concentrated than in dilute solutions for the polymers examined. 

The parameter g is less than unity for polymers with LCB, and sometimes defined as the ratio of the root-mean-square values, Sg,br/5 g,im- The calculation of g for a given branch structure is straightforward, but radii of gyration are hard to measure experimentally. Intrinsic viscosities are readily measurable, but relating g to g, and thus to branch structure is difficult. Calculations of g involve dilute solution theory, as discussed following Eq. (3.10), with the... 

Mark-Houwink equation n. Also referred to as Kuhn-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation allows prediction of the viscosity average molecular weight M for a specific polymer in a dilute solution of solvent by [77] = KM, where K is a constant for the respective material and a is a branching coefficient K and a (sometimes a ) can be determined by a plot of log [77] versus logM" and the slope is a and intercept on the Y-axis is K. Kamide K, Dobashi T (2000) Physical chemistry of polymer solutions. Elsevier, New York. Mark JE (ed) (1996) Physical properties of polymers handbook. Springer-Verlag, New York. Ehas HG (1977) Macromolecules, vols 1-2. Plenum Press, New York. 

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