Effects of polymer concentration and chain length on aggregation in physically associating polymer solutions

• Main Authors: Han, X.-G., Zhang, X.-F., Ma, Y.-H., Zhang, C.-X., Guan, Y.-B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Інститут фізики конденсованих систем НАН України 2011
• Series: Condensed Matter Physics
• Online Access: http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/handle/123456789/120038

The effects of polymer concentration and chain length on aggregation in associative polymer solutions, are studied using self-consistent e^ ld lattice model. Only two inhomogenous morphologies, i.e. microu^ ctuation homogenous (MFH) and micelle morphologies, are observed in the systems with different chain lengths. The temperatures at which the above two inhomogenous morphologies r^ st appear, which are denoted by TMFH and Tm, respectively, are dependent on polymer concentration and chain length. The variation of the logarithm of critical MFH concentration with the logarithm of chain length full^ s a linear-t^ ting relationship with a slope equaling −1. Furthermore, the variation of the average volume fraction of stickers at the micellar core (AVFSM) with polymer concentration and chain length is focused in the system at Tm. It is founded by calculations that the above behavior of AVFSM, is explained in terms of intrachain and interchain associations.