Characterization of star-like branching through polymer solution properties. 1 - Effect of arm number

Experimental data on dilute solution properties of star-like polymers are c ompared with the renormalization group predictions of Douglas and Freed. Di mensionless ratios involving the branched polymers intrinsic viscosity and second virial coefficient, relative to those of the Linear polymers having the same molecular weight (i.e., g([eta]) = [eta](branched)/[eta](linear) a nd g(A) = A(2,) (branched)/A(2,) (linear)) are studied as a function of the number of star arms, f. Agreement between theory and experiment is reasona ble for star polymers with f less than or equal to 18. For star arms number s varying between 10 and 300 empirical correlations between these ratios an d fare proposed.