Abstract
In this series of papers new results and a brief review of the current state of mean-field theories of the condensed globular state and of the globule-to-coil transition in the θ-region for a linear, homogeneous, noncharged macromolecule are presented. As a basis of our consideration, we use both Lifshitz's theory and interpolation Flory-type theory. Complete quantitative theoretical results are obtained and compared with experimental data. In this first paper of the series the unary characteristics of a polymer chain are considered. It is shown that the density distribution of monomers inside a globule depends on parameters of a polymersolvent system in the combination t = N1/2BC−1/4(a2/6)−3/4 ~ N1/2(T - θ)/θ only (a stands for the distance between neighboring links along the chain, N is the total number of links in the chain, T stands for temperature, and B and C are the second and third virial coefficients of quasimonomer interactions, respectively). The form of the t-dependence (or of the (T - θ)N1/2-dependence) of a macromolecule expansion factor is determined by the polymer rigidity parameter √C/a3. The question of the bimodality of macromolecular states in the transition region is discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1970-1979 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Macromolecules |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry