The viscosity-radius relationship from scaling arguments

TL;DR

This paper derives a scaling-based relationship between viscosity and coil radius in semi-dilute polymer solutions, linking temperature, shear rate, and coil size to explain observed viscosity reductions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scaling argument to connect viscosity, coil radius, and temperature in polymer solutions, providing a theoretical framework for understanding viscosity behavior.

Findings

Viscosity decreases with increasing temperature and shear rate.

Reduced coil radius explains viscosity reduction.

Derived viscosity-radius relationship using scaling arguments.

Abstract

The viscosity-radius relationship for semi-dilute polymer solutions is derived using scaling arguments. The viscosity temperature and the temperature radius relationships are combined using the transitive equality relationship. The viscosity-radius relationship is determined to be . The reduced viscosity observed with both increasing temperature and increasing shear rate then results from a reduction in coil radius.