A Scaling Tool for Quantifying Properties of Polymer Solutions

We have developed a scaling approach that provides the groundwork for obtaining interaction parameters, Kuhn length and the packing number for polymer solutions. Notably, we utilize an approach based on the relationship between the solution correlation length ξ=lg^ν/B and the number of repeat units per correlation blob g for polymers with repeat unit projection length l. The coefficient B and exponent ν are determined by the solvent quality for the polymer backbone. The values of the B-parameters are extracted from plateaus of normalized specific viscosity as a function of repeat unit concentration in different solution regimes and applied to measurements of specific viscosity, diffusion coefficient, osmotic pressure, and relaxation time to represent them as functions of the number of correlation blobs per chain. From this data, both the Rouse and entangled regimes are highlighted and used to obtain the chain packing number P_e, completing the set of parameters {B,P_e} that uniquely identifies the properties of a polymer/solvent pair. This method is implemented to characterize the statics and dynamics of synthetic polymers, polysaccharides, and charged polymers in organic and aqueous solutions and ionic liquids.