Comparison of a new internal viscosity model with other constrained-connector theories of dilute polymer solution rheology

Abstract

Complex viscosity η* = η′-iη″ predictions of the Dasbach-Manke-Williams (DMW) internal viscosity (IV) model for dilute polymer solutions, which employs a mathematically rigorous formulation of the IV forces, are examined in the limit of infinite IV over the full range of frequency ω number of submolecules N, and hydrodynamic interaction h*. Although the DMW model employs linear entropic spring forces, infinite IV makes the submolecules rigid by suppressing spring deformations, thereby emulating the dynamics of a freely jointed chain of rigid links. The DMW η′(ω) and η″(ω) predictions are in close agreement with results for true freely jointed chain models obtained by Hassager (1974) and Fixman and Kovac (1974 a, b) with far more complicated formalisms. The infinite-frequency dynamic viscosity η′∞ predicted by the DMW infinite-IV model is also found to be in remarkable agreement with the calculations of Doi et al. (1975). In contrast to the other freely jointed chain models cited above, however, the DMW model yields a simple closed-form solution for complex viscosity expressed in terms of Rouse-Zimm relaxation times.