The temperature dependence of the surface tension of solutions of atactic polystyrene

Abstract

Abstract A technique is described for performing temperature scanning measurements of the surface tension of polymer solutions. Measurements on solutions of a high molecular weight and a low molecular weight monodisperse polystyrene in tetralin, decalin, and n-hexadecane are reported. Whereas previous investigations of other physical properties of polystyrene solutions had revealed only one anomaly, at about 50°C in some cases and at about 70–80°C in others, the curves presented here show two anomalies, near 45°C and 70, respectively. These anomalies are tentatively attributed to conformational changes of the polymer chains.