Two-parameter model predictions and theta-point crossover for linear-polymer solutions

TL;DR

This paper develops a two-parameter model to predict polymer solution properties across different solvent conditions, providing insights into the crossover from good-solvent to theta-point behavior.

Contribution

It introduces a two-parameter model that accurately describes the crossover in polymer solution properties near the theta point.

Findings

Model predicts osmotic pressure in dilute regime

Model describes polymer size across solvent conditions

Results applicable over a wide temperature range

Abstract

We consider the first few virial coefficients of the osmotic pressure, the radius of gyration, the hydrodynamic radius, and the end-to-end distance for a monodisperse polymer solution. We determine the corresponding two-parameter model functions which parametrize the crossover between the good-solvent and the ideal-chain behavior. These results allow us to predict the osmotic pressure and the polymer size in the dilute regime in a large temperature region above the theta-point.