An Engineering Approach to Polymer Solution Properties

Numerous theories of polymer solution behavior have been advanced. Some make use of the techniques of statistical mechanics [1] and are unfortunately burdened with tedious mathematical manipulations, Recent years have seen the emergence of the socalled scaling laws of de Gennes [2]. These are mainly of theoretical interest and are strictly applicable to polymers with very high molecular weight in good solvents, While these theories are important as steps toward a fundamental understanding of polymer solutions, they are not easy to understand or apply to practical calculations of polymer solution properties.