Structure and optical anisotropies of critical polymer solutions in electric fields

Denis Wirtz, Douglas E. Werner, Gerald G. Fuller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present simultaneous measurements of both the small angle light scattering (SALS) structure factor and the dichroism for near-critical polymer solutions in electric fields. The theory of flow birefringence and dichroism proposed by Onuki and Doi is extended to the electric field case. This theory relates the electric-field-induced form dichroism to the second moment of the structure factor. Excellent agreement is observed between the form dichroism calculated from measured scattering intensities and the dichroism measured by optical polarimetry. In addition, a possible mechanism of dipolar coupling between the large critical concentration fluctuations and the electric field is proposed. Similar simultaneous SALS and birefringence measurements confirm this model of dipolar interaction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1679-1686
Number of pages8
JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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