Effect of Velocity Gradient on the Radial Distribution of Polymer Molecules in Dilute Solution

Abstract

A differential equation which determines the time dependence of the radial distribution function of polymer molecules in dilute solution is derived. The equation is represented in a form of a diffusion equation. For a case in which the solution is flowing with the constant velocity gradient, and the system is at a steady state, a calculation is carried out, adopting a Gaussian intermolecular potential between free draining chain polymer molecules. The result shows that the velocity gradient in solution causes the radial distribution function to be deformed into a non-spherical symmetry, and this deformation is increased with the increase of the velocity gradient and the molecular weight of polymer.