Author(s)

Nasrollah Hamidi, Stanley Ihekweazu, Christopher A. Wiredu, Onize H. Isa, Kevin Watley, Christopher Rowe, Briante’ Nimmons, Alexis Prezzy, Traniqua Govan, Shane Scoville, Quentin Hills, Judith Salley

Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, USA.
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technology, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, USA.
North High School, North, SC, USA.
Orangeburg Wilkinson High School, Orangeburg, SC, USA.

The intrinsic viscosity [η] of poly(3,5-dimethylphenylacrylate) (35PDMPA)solutions were evaluated throughout the measurements of the flow times of toluene and polymer solutions by classical Huggins, and Kraemer’s methods using a Cannon-Ubbelohde semi-micro-dilution capillary viscometer in a Cannon thermostated water bath at 40℃ ± 0.02℃. The values of Huggins’ constant estimated ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 which were within expectations. The intrinsic viscosities and molecular weight relationship was established with the two-parameter classical models of Staudinger-Mark-Houwink-Sakurada and Stockmayer-Fixman. Conformational parameter C_∞ and σ indicated 35PDMPA be semi flexible. Also, the rigidity of 35PDMPA was confirmed by Yamakawa-Fuji wormlike theory modified by Bohdanecky. The molecular parameters were estimated and compared. The results showed that 35PDMPA behaves like a semi-rigid polymer in toluene at 40℃ rather than a random coil flexible macromolecule.

Intrinsic Viscosity; Poly(3, 5-Dimethyl-Phenyl Acrylate); Conformational Parameters; Rigidity Factor; Kuhn Statistical Length

N. Hamidi, S. Ihekweazu, C. A. Wiredu, O. H. Isa, K. Watley, C. Rowe, B. Nimmons, A. Prezzy, T. Govan, S. Scoville, Q. Hills and J. Salley, "Effects of Side-Chain on Conformational Characteristics of Poly(3,5-Dimethyl-Phenyl Acrylate) in Toluene at 40℃," Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science, Vol. 2 No. 4, 2012, pp. 435-443. doi: 10.4236/aces.2012.24053.