Transport of Probe Particles in Semidilute Polymer Solutions

• Published in: Macromolecules Vol. 31; no. 17; pp. 5785 - 5793
• Main Authors: Ye, X, Tong, P, Fetters, L. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 25-08-1998
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; Solution and gel properties; Semidilute solution; Sedimentation rate; Amino group; End group; Liquid solid adsorption; Isoprene derivative polymer; Particle scattering; Concentration effect; Experimental study; Colloid particle; Functional group
• ISSN: 0024-9297; 1520-5835
• DOI: 10.1021/ma9801725

Dynamic light scattering and sedimentation measurements are carried out to study the motion of probe particles in neutral and adsorbing polymer solutions. By varying the microscopic interaction between the colloidal particle and the polymer molecule, we observe three different behaviors to the Stokes−Einstein (SE) equation in the same colloid−polymer system. The measurements clearly delineate the sample conditions under which the three different behaviors are observed, respectively. It is shown that the three different behaviors can be explained consistently in terms of the microstructures formed in the colloid−polymer mixture. The experiment demonstrates the importance of restraining the particle−medium interaction in the measurement of the microrheological properties of complex fluids.