Molecular theory, dilute solutions

This form for reduced compliance is suggested by the dilute solution molecular theories, according to which JeR is governed by the dispersity of molecular relaxation times [from Eq. (4.12)] ... 

The atomic theory is based upon the laws of definite and multiple proportions. Exact analyses of many substances have shown that the constituent elements of these substances are combined in such quantities that definite amounts or their multiples are always combined with each other. The atomic theory gives a definite and simple theory to account for this. The molecular theory is based upon the existence of certain quantitative relationships between the chemical compositions of substances and their relative volumes in gas form or osmotic pressures in dilute solutions. These theories were based upon quantitative experimental data and accounted for them satisfactorily. In recent years the existence of atoms and molecules has... 

Substances at high dilution, e.g. a gas at low pressure or a solute in dilute solution, show simple behaviour. The ideal-gas law and Henry s law for dilute solutions antedate the development of the fonualism of classical themiodynamics. Earlier sections in this article have shown how these experimental laws lead to simple dieniiodynamic equations, but these results are added to therniodynaniics they are not part of the fonualism. Simple molecular theories, even if they are not always recognized as statistical mechanics, e.g. the kinetic theory of gases , make the experimental results seem trivially obvious. 

First approaches at modeling the viscoelasticity of polymer solutions on the basis of a molecular theory can be traced back to Rouse [33], who derived the so-called bead-spring model for flexible coiled polymers. It is assumed that the macromolecules can be treated as threads consisting of N beads freely jointed by (N-l) springs. Furthermore, it is considered that the solution is ideally dilute, so that intermolecular interactions can be neglected. 

These classical molecular theories may be used to illustrate good agreement with the experimental findings when describing the two extremes of concentration ideally dilute and concentrated polymer solutions (or polymer melts). However, when they are used in the semi-dilute range, they lead to unsatisfactory results. 

K. K. K. Chao, M. C. Williams 1983, (The ductless siphon A useful test for evaluating dilute polymer solution elonga-tional behavior. Consistency with molecular theory and parameters), J. Rheol. 27 (5), 451 174. 

One tool for working toward this objective is molecular mechanics. In this approach, the bonds in a molecule are treated as classical objects, with continuous interaction potentials (sometimes called force fields) that can be developed empirically or calculated by quantum theory. This is a powerful method that allows the application of predictive theory to much larger systems if sufficiently accurate and robust force fields can be developed. Predicting the structures of proteins and polymers is an important objective, but at present this often requires prohibitively large calculations. Molecular mechanics with classical interaction potentials has been the principal tool in the development of molecular models of polymer dynamics. The ability to model isolated polymer molecules (in dilute solution) is well developed, but fundamental molecular mechanics models of dense systems of entangled polymers remains an important goal. 

In this article, we have surveyed typical properties of isotropic and liquid crystal solutions of liquid-crystalline stiff-chain polymers. It had already been shown that dilute solution properties of these polymers can be successfully described by the wormlike chain (or wormlike cylinder) model. We have here concerned ourselves with the properties of their concentrated solutions, with the main interest in the applicability of two molecular theories to them. They are the scaled particle theory for static properties and the fuzzy cylinder model theory for dynamical properties, both formulated on the wormlike cylinder model. In most cases, the calculated results were shown to describe representative experimental data successfully in terms of the parameters equal or close to those derived from dilute solution data. 

Solvent power parameter entering Flory s theory of dilute solutions, degree of neutralization in polyelectrolyte solutions, free-volume parameter entering Vrentas-Duda theory subscript (1,24) denotes molecular species in solution. 

The mean-square dipole moments of POE and POMg are determined from dielectric constant measurements on dilute solutions in benzene. The values obtained are in good agreement with those predicted using the RIS models for these chains. In addition, the unperturbed dimensions of POMg are calculated as a function of molecular weight using the RIS theory. 

In Eq. (4.13) NT is the total number of internal degrees of freedom per unit volume which relax by simple diffusion (NT — 3vN for dilute solutions), and t, is the relaxation time of the ith normal mode (/ = 1,2,3NT) for small disturbances. Equation (4.13), together with a stipulation that all relaxation times have the same temperature coefficient, provides, in fact, the molecular basis of time-temperature superposition in linear viscoelasticity. It also reduces to the expression for the equilibrium shear modulus in the kinetic theory of rubber elasticity when tj = oo for some of the modes. 

Since the dilute solution theory is considered as the basis for the indicated treatment, it will receive considerable attention. Influences of several parameters as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, thermodynamic and kinetic chain stiffness, intramolecular hydrodynamic inter-action, optical properties of the chain and solvent power will be considered. 

Considering the development of the theory of melt viscosity, one notices a similar kind of evolution as with the intrinsic viscosity of dilute solutions. In both cases starting points were formed by empirical relations describing the respective molecular weight dependencies. Only afterwards, the relations are interpreted on more fundamental grounds. 

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