Polymer solution explained

Polymer solutions are solutions containing dissolved polymers.^[1] These may be (e.g. in), or solid solutions (e.g. a substance which has been plasticized).^[2]

The introduction into the polymer of small amounts of a solvent (plasticizer) reduces the temperature of glass transition, the yield temperature, and the viscosity of a melt.^[3] An understanding of the thermodynamics of a polymer solution is critical to prediction of its behavior in manufacturing processes — for example, its shrinkage or expansion in injection molding processes, or whether pigments and solvents will mix evenly with a polymer in the manufacture of paints and coatings.^[4] A recent theory on the viscosity of polymer solutions gives a physical explanation for various well-known empirical relations and numerical values including the Huggins constant, but reveals also novel simple concentration and molar mass dependence.^[5]

Applications

Polymer solutions are used in producing fibers, films, glues, lacquers, paints, and other items made of polymer materials. Thin layers of polymer solution can be used to produce light-emitting devices.^[6] Guar polymer solution gels can be used in hydraulic fracturing ("fracking").^[7]

See also

• Flory–Huggins solution theory
• Colloid systems
• Gel
• Solution polymerization

Further reading

• Book: Teraoka , Iwao . Polymer solutions: an introduction to physical properties . 2002 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-0-471-38929-3.

Notes and References

1. Book: Teraoka , Iwao . Polymer solutions: an introduction to physical properties . 2002 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-0-471-38929-3.
2. Web site: Plasticizer migration . Chemical Fabrics and Film Association [CFFA] . n.d. . CFFA Performance Products Division . August 11, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170214181813/http://www.cffaperformanceproducts.org/cffa-includes/pdfs/PlasticizerMigration.pdf . live . February 14, 2017.
3. Web site: Polymer solutions.
4. Book: Danner . Ronald P. . High . Martin S. . 1993 . Handbook of polymer solution thermodynamics . . New York . en . 0-8169-0579-7.
5. Schubert . Dirk W. . 2020 . Novel Theoretical Self-Consistent Mean-Field Approach to Describe the Conductivity of Carbon Fiber-Filled Thermoplastics: Part III—Application of the Concept to Mechanical Properties of Composites and Polymer Solutions . Advanced Engineering Materials . en . 22 . 9 . 2000171 . 10.1002/adem.202000171 . 1438-1656. free .
6. Chang . Shun-Chi . Yang . Yang . 1999 . Polymer solution light-emitting devices . Applied Physics Letters . 74 . 2081 . 2081–2083. 10.1063/1.123764. 1999ApPhL..74.2081C .
7. US . 5488083 A . patent . Method of gelling a guar or derivatized guar polymer solution utilized to perform a hydraulic fracturing operation . 1996-01-30 . 1994-03-16 . 1994-03-16 . Kinsey, III . E. Wayne . Sharif . Sharif . Harry . David N. . Benchmark Research and Technology, Inc. .