Polymer Engineering Faculty Research
Title
A model for the thermally induced polymer coil-to-globule transition
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 2008
Abstract
A semiquantitative mean-field model for the thermally induced (heating-induced) polymer coil-to-globule transition (HCGT) is developed with no adjustable parameters. The transition temperature Θ is given for a long chain by the equation Θ = 2Tp*[1 − ρ̃B(Θ)], where Tp* is the characteristic temperature of the polymer and ρ̃B(Θ) is the bulk solvent density at the transition temperature. The variables ρ̃B and Tp* are obtained by invoking the Sanchez−Lacombe (S−L) equation of state. Calculated HCGT temperatures show good agreement with experimental lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs). The predicted globular state is characterized by the dominance of attractive polymer self-interactions over excluded volume interactions. There is a critical value of the ratio of polymer to solvent S−L characteristic temperature below which no HCGT transition is predicted for an infinite chain. This model can be easily generalized to treat cross-linked gels and their contraction−expansion characteristics.
Recommended Citation
Simmons, David, "A model for the thermally induced polymer coil-to-globule transition" (2008). Polymer Engineering Faculty Research. 1368.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/polymerengin_ideas/1368