Polymer solution

Article summary

Polymer solutions are solutions containing dissolved polymers. These may exist as (e.g. in ), or as solid solutions (e.g. a plasticized substance). Unlike simple solutions of small molecules, polymer solutions exhibit unique physical and chemical behaviors, due to the size, flexibility, and entanglement of the polymer chains. The study of these systems is important both in fundamental science and in practical applications, as many everyday materials are made from polymers dissolved in liquids. Dissolving a polymer in a solvent (plasticizer) is not as straightforward as dissolving small molecules such as salts or sugars. Polymers are too large to diffuse rapidly and uniformly throughout a liquid, and their solubility depends strongly on interactions between the polymer segments and the solvent molecules. A solvent that interacts favorably with the polymer will swell and separate the polymer chains, producing a stable solution. In contrast, weak interactions may cause the polymer to collapse on itself or precipitate out of the solution. A defining feature of polymer solutions is their concentration-dependent behavior. At very low concentrations, each polymer molecule behaves independently, floating freely in the solvent. This is known as the dilute regime.…

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