Development of Huggins' and Kraemer's equations for polymer solution evaluations from the generalized viscosity model for suspensions

Abstract

This study found that the generalized viscosity model for suspensions recently published by this author could be successfully applied to polymer solutions to generate both Huggins' equation and Kraemer's equation. It was also found that the solute (particle) interaction coefficient, σ, as evaluated from the generalized viscosity model, characterizes the solubility of either a solute in a solution or a particle in a suspension. Suspensions would appear to be characterized as having a solute/particle interaction coefficient of σ ≥ 1. Poor to intermediate solutions would be characterized as having a solute/particle interaction coefficient of 0 ≤ σ < 1. Good to excellent solutions would then be characterized as having solute/particle interaction coefficients of σ < 0. It was also found that a maximum in the reduced viscosity was predicted using the generalized viscosity model as applied to a Huggins-type plot for solutions. The experimental literature data of Hermans et al. confirmed that such a maximum can exist for a Huggins-type plot. Based on the available range of literature values of Kraemer's constant and other theoretical considerations from this study, the solute/particle interaction coefficient was found to have an apparent range from −[ϵ] ≤ σ ≤ [ϵ], where [ϵ] is the Einstein-type intrinsic viscosity. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 2319–2332, 1997