Optimization of homogeneity/heterogeneity of the polymer solutions

Abstract

The dependency of molecular weight of polymer solutions at different concentrations has been studied using the Dynamic light scattering method. The correlation data were collected at two scattering angles 175° and 90° along with the 1 M NaCl solutions. Analysis shows the existence of two modes, namely, fast and slow, for all the solutions. Analyses of angle dependent study quantify the existence of homogeneity and heterogeneity in the solutions which results from the fact that when the separation of β value between aqueous and 1 M NaCl is very low, 1 M NaCl has almost no effect on the change in the hydrodynamic layer compared to the higher separation value of β when the same effect of 1 M NaCl was significantly observed. Further, analysis of correlation data suggests that with the increase in molecular weight and concentration of the polymer solutions, the homogeneity of the solutions increases decreasing its existing heterogeneity. These aspects of polymeric solutions are more prominently observed and further verified by comparing the results of aqueous and 1 M NaCl solutions. Interestingly, our result also shows an optimization method of homogeneity and heterogeneity by tuning molecular weight and concentrations in both aqueous and 1 M NaCl solutions.