Approach to generalization of concentration dependence of zero‐shear viscosity in polymer solutions

Abstract

Abstract The possibility of constructing zero‐shear viscosity master curves valid for the entire range of concentration for a large number of polymer solutions in different solvents independent of molecular weight and the nature of the solvent is considered. The results obtained show that the parameters characterizing the individual macromolecular chain., viz., the dimensions of the polymer coil and the rheological effectiveness of segmental interactions, are significant in determining the viscosity of polymer solutions from very dilute to highly concentrated ones. The relation between the parameter of rheological interaction and characteristics of polymer solutions such as the flexibility of the polymer chain and the Flory‐Huggins parameter is discussed. This permits one to separate the influence of the energy and entropy factors on the concentration dependence of zero‐shear viscosity.