Rheological properties of stiff-chain polymer solutions

Abstract

Translational and rotational diffusion coefficients as well as the zero-shear viscosity of stiff-chain polymers in dilute through concentrated solutions were formulated on the basis of the fuzzy cylinder model. To test the validity of the theory, the results formulated were compared with zero-shear viscosities and mutual diffusion coefficients measured using well-characterized samples of various stiff polymers [schizophyllan, xanthan, poly (n-hexyl isocyanate), and cellulose tris(phenyl carbamate)] as functions of the polymer concentration and molecular weight. Agreements between theory and experiment were satisfactory for stiff polymer samples having the Kuhn-segment number less than ca. 20. The dielectric dispersion of a type-A stiff polymer, poly (n-hexyl isocyanate), and dynamic electric birefringence of poly (γ-benzyl L-glutamate) in solution were also favorably compared with the fuzzy cylinder model theory near the rod limit.