TITLE:
Effects of Side-Chain on Conformational Characteristics of Poly(3,5-Dimethyl-Phenyl Acrylate) in Toluene at 40℃
AUTHORS:
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
KEYWORDS:
Intrinsic Viscosity; Poly(3, 5-Dimethyl-Phenyl Acrylate); Conformational Parameters; Rigidity Factor; Kuhn Statistical Length
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science,
Vol.2 No.4,
November
1,
2012
ABSTRACT: 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.