Comparison of unperturbed molecular parameters of methacrylate polymers

Polyalkyl methacrylate polymers were prepared by the emulsion technique and fractionated. The intrinsic viscosity molecular weight relations were established in several ideal solvents. Light scattering determinations were run on polyalkyl methacrylates in an ideal and a nonideal solvent. The results of this experiment have proven that neither size nor shape of the solvent molecules has an effect on the dimensions of the unperturbed polymer. Also, it was shown that the unperturbed polymer dimensions are not altered by the choice of mixed or single theta solvents. It was found that the degree of chain extension increases as the size of the pendant groups (methyl, ethyl, and n‐butyl) increases.