STUDY OF SOLUTION PROPERTIES OF POLY(ALPHA-METHYL STYRENE) IN VARIOUSSOLVENTS BY DILUTE-SOLUTION VISCOMETRY

The values of Mark-Houwink-Sakurada constants were determined for poly (alpha-methyl styrene) (P alpha Ms) of high and low molecular weights in a variety of solvents by a new approach, which requires only polydi sperse samples. The results are in accord with those reported in the l iterature. In addition, the present work reports the values of the Flo ry interaction parameter for P alpha Ms in 13 solvents of distinct sol vent power at various temperatures. Three refined methods pertaining t o both polar and nonpolar solvents were applied to estimate the solubi lity parameter (delta(2)) of P alpha Ms resulting in delta(2) = 18.75/-0.15 (J/mL)(1/2) at 30 degrees C. Finally, the scatter data of the H uggins coefficient over a range of expansion factors varying from 0.7 to 2.6 seem to conform better to a newly proposed empirical equation t han to the contemporary model after Imai. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.