Cyclic polymers in good solvents

This paper deals with the effects of excluded volume interactions on the th ermodynamic and structural properties of cyclic polymers in good solvents. Several thermodynamic properties are discussed with particular emphasis on excluded volume interactions and their effects on the radii of gyration and the form factors. An empirical model describing the mean square distance b etween two points along a cyclic polymer is proposed and its predictions co mpared with those of other models. Comparison between cyclic and linear cha in properties highlights the effects of chain closure under good solvent co nditions. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.