POLARIZED-LIGHT SCATTERING AND SUPERMOLEC ULAR ORDER IN DILUTE POLYMER-SOLUTIONS

Supermolecular structure of dilute solutions of polymers containing st rongly interacting groups in their chains was studied using polarized light scattering. Liquids with a strong tendency to molecular associat ion were used as solvents. Two structural parameters of the scattering medium were calculated using the Debye-Bueche-Stein theory. The size of scattering elements was shown to be larger than the molecular dimen sions, and it increased as the concentration decreased. The scattering elements were found to be aligned rather perfectly in dilute solution s of methylcellulose in water and polyamidoimide in N-methylpyrrolidon e.