| Abstract: | A numerical approach, based on the configurational distribution function of a polymer chain in flow, has been used to calculate the zero-shear rheological properties. Starting from a bead-spring representation of the chain, the stiffness is introduced by repulsive springs between next-nearest neighbors. The connection to models based on the bending equation and their limitation is discussed. To obtain a correct model of a semiflexible chain, an inhomogeneous spring constant has to be used. Calculations have been carried out for the free draining case, and a simple relation between the intrinsic viscosity, the translational diffusion coefficient and the persistence length for arbitrary solvent conditions is proposed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1995–2003, 1998 |
