On the temperature dependence of dilute solution properties of polystyrene

Abstract

Abstract Solutions of polystyrene in decalin were examined by light‐scattering over the temperature range 60°–85°C., and by viscometry over the range 30–110°C., in order to investigate the anomalous transition reported by R EISS and B ENOIT . The present results indicate that the radius of gyration exhibits a small maximum in the vicinity of 75°C., and the intrinsic viscosity deviates slightly from a smooth, theoretical curve in the range 50°–90°C.; however, in neither case is the variation clearly beyond the experimental error. Thus, the data provide no clear evidence for any anomaly in the temperature dependence of the average molecular dimensions, which suggests that the transition may involve a change in the local arrangement of short sections of the molecular chain. Further methods for investigating the transition are proposed.