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Branched Versus Linear Polyisoprene: Flory–Huggins Interaction Parameters for their Solutions in Cyclohexane
Author(s) -
Eckelt John,
Samadi Fatemeh,
Wurm Frederik,
Frey Holger,
Wolf Bernhard A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200900191
Subject(s) - cyclohexane , osmometer , flory–huggins solution theory , polymer chemistry , thermodynamics , linear polymer , vapor pressure osmometry , polymer , solvent , theta solvent , chemistry , vapor pressure , excluded volume , volume (thermodynamics) , polymer science , solvent effects , organic chemistry , physics
Flory‐Huggins interaction parameters were determined as a function of composition for solutions of linear and of branched polyisoprene in cyclohexane (CH) at 25, 45, and 65 °C by means of vapor pressure measurements (moderate to concentrated solutions) and by vapor pressure osmometry (dilute solutions). The results demonstrate that CH is a considerably worse solvent for branched polyisoprene than for the linear analog at all temperatures and at all compositions. This observation corroborates the expectation based on a recent phenomenological approach, which accounts explicitly for the incapability of the segments of an individual polymer molecule to spread out over the entire volume of the system and for its ability to adjust its chain conformation to an altering molecular environment.