Osmotic pressure and dimensions in moderately concentrated polymer solutions

Abstract

Concluding calculations are reported for a recent theory of the concentration dependence of polymer dimensions. In a prior theory of the osmotic pressure, the polymer size appeared as a parameter. It is here shown that a better agreement of the osmotic pressure theory with experiment is obtained if the polymer size is allowed to depend on concentration in such a way as to minimize the free energy of solution, than if the polymer size is taken independent of concentration. A brief résumé and critique of the model is given.