Characterization of cellulose by SEC-MALLS

Norway spruce (Picea abies) cellulose samplesdissolved in lithium chloride/N,N-dimethyl-acetamide(LiCl/DMAc) covering a wide range of average molecular weights were analyzed bysize exclusion chromatography (SEC) and multi-angle laser light detection(MALLS). The molecular weight distribution of the samples was compared to themolecular weight distribution of cotton linters cellulose samples. To obtaincomplete dissolution of high-molecular-weight wood cellulose, previouslypublished procedures for dissolving cellulose in LiCl/DMAc were modified. SECseparation was performed using macroporous monodisperse polymer particles ascolumn matrix. The refractive index increment (dn/dc) forcellulose in 0.5% LiCl/DMAc was found to be 0.104. The radius of gyration,R_G, of cellulose in 0.5% LiCl/DMAc depended on the molecular weight,M, according to the relation R_G M^0.55. Celluloseprepared from sprucewood by the sulfite cooking process had a broad molecularweight distribution compared to cotton linters cellulose.     

On the dissolution state of cellulose in cold alkali solutions

We have characterized the dissolved state of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in cold alkali [2.0 M NaOH(aq)] solutions using a combination of small angle X-ray (SAXS) and static light scattering (SLS), \(^1\)H NMR, NMR self-diffusion, and rheology experiments. NMR and SAXS data demonstrate that the cellulose is fully molecularly dissolved. SLS, however, shows the presence of large concentration fluctuations in the solution, consistent with significant attractive cellulose-cellulose interactions. The scattering data are consistent with fractal cellulose aggregates of micrometre size having a mass fractal dimension \(D\sim 1.5\). At 25\(\,^{\circ }\mathrm {C}\) the solution structure remains unchanged on the time scale of weeks. However, upon heating the solutions above 35\(\,^{\circ }\mathrm {C}\) additional aggregation occurs on the time scale of minutes. Decreasing or increasing the NaOH concentration away from the “optimum” 2 M also leads to additional aggregation. This is seen as an increase of the SAXS intensity at lower q values. Addition of urea (1.8 and 3.6 M, respectively) does not significantly influence the solution structure. With these examples, we will discuss how scattering methods can be used to assess the quality of solvents for cellulose.     

SEC–MALLS analysis of cellulose using LiCl/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone as an eluent

The lithium chloride/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (LiCl/DMI) solvent system for cellulose was adopted as a mobile phase of size-exclusion chromatographic (SEC) analysis of cellulose, and the applicability of this system was examined using multi-angle laser light scattering and ¹³C-NMR analysis. The results indicate that 8% (w/v) LiCl/DMI ID a true solvent for cellulose, and that cellulose molecules dissolving ID 1% (w/v) LiCl/DMI are separated orderly depending on their molecular mass (MM) or root-mean-square (RMS) radius by the SEC system. Practically, no aggregates were detected ID the dilute cellulose/LiCl/DMI solutions. Furthermore, high stability of cellulose/LiCl/DMI solutions has been demonstrated; only a few percent of decline ID average MM was observed even after storage for 6 months at room temperature. Relationships between RMS radius and MM for hardwood bleached kraft pulp ID 1% LiCl/DMI was estimated as the following equation: _g^0.59, corresponding to a Mark–Houwink–Sakurada exponent of 0.77.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new gemini surfactant derived from 3alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-amine (steroid residue) and ethylenediamintetraacetic acid (spacer)

A new gemini steroid surfactant derived from 3alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-amine (steroid residue) and ethylenediamintetraacetic acid (spacer) was synthesized and characterized in aqueous solution by surface tension, fluorescence intensity of pyrene, and light scattering (static and dynamic) measurements. These techniques evidence the existence of a threshold concentration (cac), below which a three layers film is formed at the air-water interface. Above the cac, two types of aggregates--micelles and vesicle-like aggregates--coexist in a metastable state. Filtration of a solution with a starting concentration of 2.6 mM (buffer 150 mM, pH 10) allows isolation of the micelles, which have an average aggregation number of 12, their density being 0.28 g cm(-3). Under conditions where only the vesicle-like aggregates are detected by dynamic light scattering, a value of 5.5 x 10(4) was obtained for their aggregation number at 30 microM, their density being 6.8 x 10(-4) g cm(-3). At high concentrations, the intensity ratio of the vibronic peaks of pyrene, I1/I3, (=0.68) is very close to published values for deoxycholate micelles, indicating that the probe is located in a region with a very low polarity and far from water. A hypothesis to explain the observed aggregation behavior (small aggregates are favored with increasing gemini concentration) is outlined.     

Salicylaldehyde azine cluster formation observed by cold‐spray ionization mass spectrometry

We installed a cold‐spray ionization (CSI) source on a mass spectrometer to investigate the self‐assembly behavior of an aggregation‐induced emission enhancement system. Using a CSI source and the three‐dimensional platform, a self‐assembly system of a salicylaldehyde azine (SAA) was studied in mixture solution. This method permitted the determination of the structural information of the solution state, which cannot be detected by conventional mass spectrometry. In addition to the [M+H]⁺ ion (M is the SAA molecule), many major ion clusters such as [2M+Na]⁺ at m/z 503, [3M+Na]⁺ at m/z 743, [4M+Na]⁺ at m/z 983 and higher order aggregates were observed in the CSI mass spectra. However, many fragment ions, with the exception of cluster ions, appeared with high abundance when the ESI ion source was used due to the desolvation chamber temperature, suggesting that some aggregation can be detected at low temperatures. To investigate the effect of solvent on the aggregation, the CSI‐mass spectrometry (MS) experiments of SAA in absolute ethanol solution and ethanol/water (good/poor solvent) mixture solution were conducted. The most abundant ion peak was protonated SAA (m/z 241) in absolute ethanol, but many cluster ions and some multiple charged ion peaks were observed after adding a small amount of water into the ethanol solution. The results showed good agreement with that inferred by the combinational analysis of scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscopy, indicating that CSI‐MS is capable of providing self‐assembly information of labile molecules in the solution state. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The cellulose solvent system N,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride revisited: the effect of water on physicochemical properties and chemical stability

The water content in the binary systemN,N-dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl), acommon cellulose solvent, has been proven to be a crucial parameter. A quickdetermination of water content in DMAc based on the solvatochromism of aUV-active betain probe dye has been developed and validated. An analogousmethod, based on the solvatochromic fluorescence shift ofZelinskij's dye, which strongly depends on thesolventpolarity, was established for water determination in DMAc containing LiCl.Precise physicochemical data of the system DMAc/LiCl, such as density,viscosity, and conductivity, have been obtained. The limiting solubility forLiCl in absolute DMAc is 8.46 wt%. As shown by lightscattering experiments, water in DMAc/LiCl induces aggregation upon standingforlonger periods of time, which is even more prominent for diluted solutions andthose having a poor state of dissolution.     

Investigation of the structure of cellulose in LiCl/DMAc solution and its gelation behavior by small-angle X-ray scattering measurements

Cellulose gels were prepared from cellulose in lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) solution. When the cellulose concentration in the solution is above the one at which cellulose molecules overlap, cellulose gels were formed. While the gel prepared by the addition of water was turbid, the one prepared by the ion exchange was colorless, transparent, and optically anisotropic. In order to explain this gelation behavior of cellulose, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the cellulose solutions and the gels were performed. The SAXS profiles of the cellulose solutions and the gels suggested that the large-scale fluctuation of the molecular chain density in the solution can be the origin of the molecular aggregates formed in the gel. Furthermore, the differences in the structure of the gels at the macroscopic and the molecular level were discussed in terms of the phase separation and the molecular association.     

Effect of catalyst systems and reaction conditions on the synthesis of cellulose‐g‐PDMAam copolymers by controlled radical polymerization

Various copper‐based catalyst systems and reaction conditions were studied in the graft copolymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAam) with a cellulose‐based macroinitiator by controlled radical polymerization. The cellulose macroinitiator with degree of substitution DS = 0.44 was synthesized from dissolving softwood pulp in a LiCl/DMAc solution. The graft copolymerizations of DMAam, using the cellulose macroinitiator and various copper‐based catalyst systems, were then carried out in DMSO solutions. The copolymerization kinetics was followed by ¹H NMR. Water‐soluble cellulose‐g‐PDMAam copolymers were comprehensively characterized by ATR‐FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and SEC analyses. DLS and steady‐shear viscosity measurements revealed that when the DP_graft of the cellulose‐g‐PDMAam copolymer is high enough, the copolymer forms a more compact structure in water. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

SEC–MALLS analysis of ethylenediamine-pretreated native celluloses in LiCl/<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylacetamide: softwood kraft pulp and highly crystalline bacterial,tunicate, and algal celluloses

Softwood and hardwood bleached kraft pulps (SBKP and HBKP, respectively) and highly crystalline native celluloses such as algal, tunicate, bacterial and cotton lint celluloses were dissolved in 8 % (w/v) LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) after ethylenediamine (EDA) pretreatment. Complete dissolution of SBKP and other highly crystalline native celluloses in 8 % LiCl/DMAc was achieved after solvent exchange from EDA to DMAc through methanol. Neutral sugar composition analysis showed no significant differences between the original and EDA-treated pulps. A combination of size-exclusion chromatography and multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC–MALLS) was used to analyze the cellulose solutions after dilution to 1 % (w/v) LiCl/DMAc. The 0.05 % (w/v) solutions of highly crystalline cellulose in 1 % (w/v) LiCl/DMAc contained entangled molecules, and therefore 0.025 % (w/v) cellulose solutions in 1 % (w/v) LiCl/DMAc were used in the SEC–MALLS analysis to obtain reliable conformation plots (or double-logarithmic plots of molecular mass vs. root-mean-square radius). All the cellulose samples except SBKP gave conformation plots with slope values of 0.56–0.57, showing that these cellulose molecules had random-coil conformations. In contrast, SBKP gave a slope value of 0.35, indicating that some branched structures were present in the high-molecular-mass fraction. Double-logarithmic plots of the reduced viscosities of the cellulose solutions in 1 % (w/v) LiCl/DMAc versus the molecular mass were linear, except for SBKP, also suggesting the presence of anomalous cellulose structures in SBKP.     

Phase transformations in microcrystalline cellulose due to partial dissolution

All-cellulose composites were prepared by partly dissolving microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in an 8.0 wt% LiCl/DMAc solution, then regenerating the dissolved portion. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra were used to characterize molecular packing. The MCC was transformed to relatively slender crystallites of cellulose I in a matrix of paracrystalline and amorphous cellulose. Paracrystalline cellulose was distinguished from amorphous cellulose by a displaced and relatively narrow WAXS peak, by a 4 ppm displacement of the C-4 ¹³C NMR peak, and by values of T₂(H) closer to those for crystalline cellulose than disordered polysaccharides. Cellulose II was not formed in any of the composites studied. The ratio of cellulose to solvent was varied, with greatest consequent transformation observed for c < 15%, where c is the weight of cellulose expressed as % of the total weight of cellulose, LiCl and DMAc. The dissolution time was varied between 1 h and 48 h, with only small additional changes achieved by extension beyond 4 h.     

Molecular weight and aggregation of Aeromonas gum treated with dimethyl sulfoxide in aqueous solution

Aeromonas (A) gum, an acidic hetero polysaccharide, in 0.2 M LiCl/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was fractionated satisfactorily according to the nonsolvent addition method. Eight fractions were chosen to examine their aggregation behavior in aqueous solution. The weight‐average molecular weight (M_w), radius of gyration 〈S²〉^1/2, and intrinsic viscosities [η] of the fractions in 0.2 M LiCl/DMSO and 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution at 25 °C were measured by static light scattering and viscometry. The results indicated that the A gum was aggregated in 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution at 25 °C, and the aggregates were broken in 0.2 M LiCl/DMSO. The apparent weight‐average aggregation number (N_ap) of the fractions increased with the process of fractionation, that is, N_ap increased from 1.1 to 15 with decreasing M_w of the single chain. The fractions obtained by treating with DMSO were more easily dissociated in the aqueous solution, and its N_ap was lower than that of the A gum fractions that were not treated with DMSO. Moreover, the A gum molecules with relatively low M_w aggregated easily to form a compact spherelike structure in the aqueous solution. Elemental analysis and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy indicated that DMSO was adsorbed on the A gum molecules caused by the fractionation program; DMSO not only prevented the polysaccharide aggregation but also increased the solubility. A model has been proposed to describe the aggregation behavior of the A gum chains with DMSO overcoat in the aqueous solution. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2269–2276, 2002     

Effects of the thermal history and concentration on the aggregation of Erwinia gum in an aqueous solution

The aggregation of Erwinia (E) gum in a 0.2 M NaCl aqueous solution was investigated by multi‐angle laser light scattering and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) combined with light scattering. The GPC chromatograms of five fractions contained two peaks; the fractions had the same elution volume but different peak areas, suggesting that aggregates and single chains coexisted in the solution at 25 °C. The apparent weight‐average molecular weights (M_w) of the aggregates and single chains for each fraction were all about 2.1 × 10⁶ and 7.8 × 10⁴, respectively. This indicates that the aggregates were composed of about 27 molecules of E gum in the concentration range used (1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁴ g/mL). The weight fraction of the aggregates (w_ag) increased with increasing concentration, but the aggregates still existed even in an extremely dilute solution. The fractionation process and polymer concentration hardly affected the apparent aggregation number but significantly changed w_ag. The E‐gum M_w decreased sharply with an increase in temperature. When the E‐gum solution was kept at 100 °C, w_ag decreased sharply for 20 h and leveled off after 100 h. Once the aggregates were decomposed at a higher temperature, no aggregation was observed in the solution at 25 °C, indicating that the aggregation was irreversible. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1352–1358, 2000     

Intriguing H-aggregate and H-dimer formation of coumarin-481 dye in aqueous solution as evidenced from photophysical studies

Photophysical properties of coumarin-481 (C481) dye in aqueous solution show intriguing presence of multiple emitting species. Concentration and wavelength dependent fluorescence decays and time-resolved emission spectra and area-normalized emission spectra suggest the coexistence of dye monomers, dimers, and higher aggregates (mostly trimers) in the solution. Because of the efficient intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state to twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state conversion, the dye monomers show very short fluorescence lifetime of ~0.2 ns. Fluorescence lifetimes of dimers (~4.1 ns) and higher aggregates (~1.4 ns) are relatively longer due to steric constrain toward ICT to TICT conversion. Observed results indicate that the emission spectra of the aggregates are substantially blue-shifted compared to monomers, suggesting H-aggregation of the dye in the solution. Temperature-dependent fluorescence decays in water and time-resolved fluorescence results in water-acetonitrile solvent mixtures are also in support of the dye aggregation in the solution. Though dynamic light scattering studies could not recognize the dye aggregates in the solution due to their small size and low concentration, fluorescence up-conversion measurements show a relatively higher decay tail in water than in water-acetonitrile solvent mixture, in agreement with higher dye aggregation in aqueous solution. Time-resolved fluorescence results with structurally related non-TICT dyes, especially those of coumarin-153 dye, are also in accordance with the aggregation behavior of these dyes in aqueous solution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the aggregation of coumarin dyes in aqueous solution. Present results are important because coumarin dyes are widely used as fluorescent probes in various microheterogeneous systems where water is always a solvent component, and the dye aggregation in these systems, if overlooked, can easily lead to a misinterpretation of the observed results.     

用荧光方法研究端基为芘的聚苯乙烯在溶液中的聚集行为

利用原子转移自由基聚合（ATRP） 方法合成了窄分布的端基含有芘或萘的聚 苯乙烯（Py-PS和Na-PS）。研究了Py-PS在四氢呋喃（THF）溶液中的荧光发射光谱 随加水量的变化。结果表明,加水初期随着加水量的增加,对应于芘的单体荧光发 射峰强度（I_M）增加,当水加到一定量时,观察到由芘形成的激基缔合物（ excimer）的荧光光谱峰,其强度（I_E）随加水量的增加而进一步增强,而I_M下 降,直至体系产生宏观的相分离,此时I_M和I_E均不变。对这一结果从分子水平上 进行了讨论,并通过I_E/I_M与I_1/I_3随加水量的变化得到了不同浓度下Py-PS在 THF中聚集的临界加水量。另外,我们也用非辐射能量转移（NRET）的方法研究了 Py-PS混合溶液的聚集。这些结果对于进一步研究含聚苯乙烯链段的嵌段共聚物在 溶液中的聚集有重要意义。     

Comparative evaluation of size-exclusion chromatography and viscometry for the characterisation of cellulose

The analysis using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and differential refractive index (DRI) detection of cellulose dissolved in lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCI/DMAc) is evaluated and compared to two other methods currently used for cellulose analysis. These are SEC with low-angle light scattering (LALS) and ultra-violet detection of cellulose derivatised to tricarbanilates (CTC), and viscometry in cadmium triethylene diamine dihydroxide (cadoxen). The cellulose source is Whatman No. 1 paper, unaged or artificially aged with a combination of heat and humidity. The values of the molar mass (Mr) averages of cellulose obtained with the different methods resulted quite different for both aged and unaged paper. SEC of cellulose in LiCl/DMAc provided the highest Mr averages values, followed by SEC of CTC, while viscometry yielded the lowest values. These differences were more or less pronounced depending on the initial degradation state of the paper. Several hypotheses are presented in order to explain these discrepancies and each method is discussed on the basis of its suitability to characterise the aging-induced degradation.     

Interactions between sodium dodecyl sulphate and non-ionic cellulose derivatives studied by size exclusion chromatography with online multi-angle light scattering and refractometric detection

The novel approach described allows to characterise the surfactant-polymer interaction under several sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) concentrations (0-20 mM) using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with online multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and refractometric (RI) detection. Three different cellulose derivatives, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), have been studied in solution containing 10 mM NaCl and various concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulphate. It is shown that this approach is well suited for successful application of both Hummel-Dreyer and multi-component light scattering principles and yields reliable molecular masses of both the polymer complex and the polymer itself within the complex, the amount of surfactant bound into the complex as well as appropriate values of the refractive index increment (dn/dc)micro, of both the complex and the polymer in question. The more hydrophobic derivatives HPC and HPMC adsorbed significantly more SDS than HEC. The inter-chain interactions close to critical aggregation concentration (cac) were clearly seen for HPC and HPMC as an almost two-fold average increase in polymer molecular mass contained in the complex.     

利用水相合成的CdTe纳米晶构建超晶格结构研究--纳米晶聚集体的调控

用巯基丙酸作稳定剂,在水溶液中制备了CdTe纳米晶.通过加入Cd2+、聚丙烯酸(PAA)以及长期放置分别得到了CdTe纳米晶的聚集体,改变Cd2+浓度或PAA加入量可以调控聚集体的尺寸.过量的Cd2+加速了聚集体的形成,通过与纳米晶表面羧酸根的静电相互作用,Cd2+成为连接不同CdTe纳米晶的“桥梁”.PAA链上大量的羧基与CdTe纳米晶有较强的配位相互作用,可以诱导纳米晶聚集.新制CdTe纳米晶在长期放置时,表面的羧基与Cd2+的相互作用导致纳米晶逐渐聚集.在聚集过程中纳米晶表面结构得到改善,并引起荧光增强.这些结果表明通过控制各种聚集条件,可以得到不同尺寸的聚集体.     

Aggregation and disaggregation of Aeromonas gum in an aqueous solution under different conditions

The aggregation and disaggregation of Aeromonas (A) gum, an acidic heteropolysaccharide, were investigated by viscometry, a fluorescent probe, and gel permeation chromatography combined with laser light scattering techniques in aqueous solutions containing desired NaCl at different temperatures. The A gum had a strong tendency of aggregation and high viscosity in the aqueous solutions. The weight‐average molecular weight, z‐average radius of gyration, weight‐average molar number (w_ag), and apparent aggregation number (N_ap) of the aggregates were investigated and discussed. The results indicated that there were three regions that corresponded to three kinds of aggregates and two transition temperatures at about 35 and 75 °C in the disaggregation course. When the temperature was higher than 75 °C, the w_ag hardly changed, and there was still a certain amount of aggregates even at 100 °C, indicating that the aggregates were difficult to disrupt completely. Moreover, the aggregation was thermally irreversible. Decreasing polysaccharide concentration reduced the content of the aggregate. However, N_ap remained constant around 20, independent of the polysaccharide concentration in a 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution at 25 °C. At a salt concentration greater than or equal to 0.05 M, the aggregation was almost independent of the salt concentration used here. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2644–2651, 2000     

Solution properties of poly(amic acid)–NMP containing LiCl and their effects on membrane morphologies

Physical properties of poly(amic acid) (PAA) casting solutions in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) containing lithium chloride (LiCl) were characterized by viscometry and dynamic light scattering (DLS) and were related to the morphological properties of asymmetric membranes prepared from these solutions. At a fixed polymer concentration, the increase in viscosity of the PAA solutions with increasing LiCl content is mainly determined by the viscosity of the salt–solvent medium, implying that the LiCl–NMP interactions are stronger than those between LiCl and PAA. Because of the strong salt–solvent interactions, complexes between LiCl and NMP are formed. The complexes reduce the solvent power of NMP for PAA inducing polymer aggregation (clustering) and/or transient cross-links in the solutions. Dynamic light scattering results for salt-containing solutions at low PAA concentrations support the existence of these aggregations. Solutions without salt showed a single relaxation, but solutions with LiCl exhibit multiple relaxation modes; two diffusional modes of cooperative and aggregates, and one angle independent transient network mode. The polymer aggregates and transient cross-links form a gel-like structure in the casting solution film and hinder macrovoid formation during phase inversion, resulting in asymmetric membranes with a primarily sponge-like structure.     

Formation and structure of pachyman aggregates in dimethyl sulfoxide containing water

The aggregation of pachyman, β-(1 → 3)-D -glucan (M_w = 1.68 × 10⁵) from the Poria cocos mycelia, was investigated using static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing about 15% water, which leads to large aggregates. Both the time dependence of hydrodynamic radius and the angle dependence of the scattering intensity were used to calculate the fractal dimension (d_f) of the aggregates. The aggregation rate and average size of aggregates increase dramatically with increasing the polymer concentration from 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ g/mL to 8.6 × 10⁻⁴ g/mL, and with the decrease of the solvent quality, that is, water content from 13 to 15%. In the cases, the fractal dimensions change from 1.94 to 2.43 and from 1.92 to 2.54, respectively, suggesting that transforms of aggregation processes: a slow process called reaction-limited cluster aggregation (RLCA) to a fast process called diffusion-limited cluster aggregation (DLCA) in different polymer concentrations and water content. The fractal dimensions above 2 of the fast aggregation is larger than the 1.75 predicted for the ideal DLCA model, suggesting that the aggregation involves a restructuring process through the interchain hydrogen bonding interaction. There are no aggregates of pachyman in DMSO without water, but aggregates formed in the DMSO containing 15% water at 25°C as a compact structure. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3201–3207, 1999