Static and dynamic polystyrene dimensions in relation to the blob model and size-exclusion chromatography

Overview & Synopsis

Dynamic measurements (sedimentation, viscosity, size exclusion chromatography) were carried out on a series of polystyrene samples dissolved in a good solvent, tetrahydrofuran. Using the Weill-des Cloizeaux theory we show that it is possible, from these data, to study how the coil radius of gyration varies with molecular weight. The validity of the thermal-blob model is confirmed by our results, and the expected power laws under and above the cross-over domain are indeed observed. In size-exclusion chromatography, we observe that several calibration curves may be obtained from the experimental data.