Les proprietes hydrodynamiques des polystyrenes atactiques en solvant theta

Light scattering, sedimentation velocity and intrinsic viscosity measurements were made, at 35° in cyclohexane, for various well fractionated atactic polystyrenes. It was found that these solution properties can vary from a sample to another, revealing structural differences among the samples. The variations in the sedimentation velocity law can entirely be ascribed to the corresponding variations in the chain dimensions. In this respect, the results are in accordance with the Kirkwood-Riseman's theory. On the contrary, this theory in its present state cannot explain the variations in the intrinsic viscosity law in relation with the chain dimensions variations. These results put back in question the possibility, even in a theta solvent, of using intrinsic viscosity measurements, as suggested by Flory, for calculation of chain dimensions.