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Specific viscosity of polymer solutions with large thermal blobs

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Abstract

Literature viscosity data are reviewed in both entangled solutions and semidilute unentangled solutions, with several examples of using de Gennes’ thermal blob to rationalize observations for flexible polymers dissolved in intermediate quality solvents. Some puzzling literature data in θ-solvents are also nicely understood with two-parameter scaling upon reanalysis (where the correlation length and the tube diameter concentration dependences differ). However, some literature data seem to not be understood with this simple scheme, suggesting that our understanding of neutral polymer solution viscosity is incomplete. Lastly, combinations of experiments are suggested to better examine the concept of the thermal blob.

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Funding

The authors thank the National Science Foundation for support through Chemistry-2203746. We also thank Carlos Lopez for many useful comments on this work.

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  1. Materials Science and Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Ralph H. Colby & Aijie Han

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  1. Ralph H. Colby
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  2. Aijie Han
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Correspondence to Ralph H. Colby.

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Colby, R.H., Han, A. Specific viscosity of polymer solutions with large thermal blobs. Rheol Acta 62, 687–693 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-023-01419-7

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