Optical and electro-optical methods to the investigation of the poly(ethyleneoxide)-water system

Investigations of poly(ethyleneoxide)-water system based on measuring of the light scattering, viscosity and electric birefringence at temperature from 20 to 40 oC have been made. PEO's of there different molecular weights (Mw = 3·105, Mw = 15·105 and Mw = 17·105) have been used. For all of these molecular weights, angular dependence of Zimm-plots has shown no downturn at low angles indicating no large aggregates of PEO in water. Based on the experimental data, the radius of gyration RG, the expansion factor α, the Huggins coefficient k1, Θ-temperature and flexibility factor F of the poly(ethyleneoxide) macro-molecules have been calculated. The obtained parameters indicated that molecularly dispersed PEO is stable and the aggregate-free property is inherent in water.(Author)