Solution properties and chain dimensions of poly(trimethylene sulfide)

Abstract

Abstract Poly(trimethylene sulfide) (PTS) synthesized by means of anionic polymerization was studied with regard to its solubility behaviour and unperturbed chain dimensions. The Flory‐Huggins interaction parameter was used to determine the solubility parameter of PTS, δ = 10,0 cal 1/2 · cm −3/2 , which agrees with the calculated one. PTS fractions were isolated by means of fractional precipitation from chloroform/hexane at 50°C. Their number‐average molecular weight, M̄ n , and the intrinsic viscosity, [η], were measured in chloroform at 25°C. From these data the relation [η] = 3,10 · 10 −4 M̄ was estimated. A value of the characteristic ratio, 〈 r 2 〉 0 /( n l 2 ) = 4,0, was determined from the Burchard‐Stockmayer‐Fixman plot, which shows that this chain molecule has high flexibility.