Equation of State for Star Polymers in Good Solvents

Published

October 1, 2000

Author(s)

C S. Patrickios, L L. Lue

Abstract

We develop a free-energy model for star polymers in good solvents that accurately describes concentrated polymer solutions and displays the correct universal scaling behavior, in the limit of infinite molecular weigth, for dilute and semidilute polymer concentrations. The architecture of the polymer molecules enters the model through the value of the second virial coefficient and the rescaled penetration function {dielectric flux}, the ratio of the penetration function {dielectric flux} (fluid} to its asymptotic, infinite-molecular-weight value {dielectric flux}*{fluid}, where fluid is the number of arms on the star polymer. The direction of approach of the equation of state to the universal, infinite-molecular-weight scaling limit depends on the relative magnitude of {dielectric flux}. For {dielectric flux} > 1, the scaling equation of state is approached from above, while for {dielectric flux}

Citation

Journal of Chemical Physics

Volume

113

Issue

No. 13

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

equation of state, polymer field theory, renormalization group, scaling, star polymers, tangent-hard-sphere

Citation

Patrickios, C. and Lue, L. (2000), Equation of State for Star Polymers in Good Solvents, Journal of Chemical Physics (Accessed September 15, 2024)