Study of polymer chain morphologies at and around critical concentrations

Experimental studies of polymer solutions have been carried out at different scattering angles using Dynamic Light Scattering method to investigate the polymer solutions at and around a few defined concentrations (critical) in terms of their morphological change that results in the homogeneity/heterogeneity of the solutions. Critical concentrations were identified from the study of concentration dependent behavior of polymer solutions as a result of optimum heterogeneity/homogeneity at that concentration. Correlation functions of polymer solutions at critical concentrations were analyzed as a function of pH change of the solutions as well as with the change of different molar concentrations of NaCl solutions. An increase in heterogeneity of the solutions with the change of the pH value or with the change of molar concentrations of NaCl was found to be observed as a result of the increase of stretching exponent of slow mode of the solutions. Additionally, variations of Zeta potential study with pH change and with change of molar concentration of NaCl at different concentrations of polymer solutions show the standard desired equilibrium stability value of the studied solutions.