Overview/Checklist

Overview

In this Lesson, we continue to consider how polymers behave in solution, but more so focus on the thermodynamics of the mixing process. What are the driving forces for mixing, and how can we predict if a polymer and solvent will mix spontaneously? We will begin with ideal solution theory and build a framework for thinking about polymers in solution, and later move on to Flory Huggins theory, which is more accurate but slightly more complex. Keep in mind as you go through the lesson the situations in which these various parameters and theories are most accurate, and in which cases they may fail to accurately describe polymer solution behavior.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Explain how and why polymer solutions differ from ideal solutions
• Describe what the parameters in Flory Huggins represent
• Define solubility parameters and use them to predict good and bad solvents for polymers
• Discuss limitations of solubility parameters
• Relate solubility parameters to the Flory parameter
• Predict the behavior of a polyelectrolyte in solution with varying ionic strength

Lesson Checklist

Please refer to the Canvas Calendar for specific timeframes.

Questions?

If you have questions, please feel free to post them to the General Questions and Discussion forum. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help a classmate.