This text is associated with Fried/Polymer Science and Technology, Third Edition (9780137039555)
, SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN POLYMER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
3RD EDITION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 1
Chapter 2 5
Chapter 3 14
Chapter 4 24
Chapter 5 28
Chapter 7 36
Chapter 11 40
Chapter 12 51
Chapter 13 52
CHAPTER 1
1-1 A polymer sample combines five different molecular-weight fractions, each of equal weight. The
molecular weight s of these fractions increase from 20,000 to 100,000 in increments of 20,000.
Calculate M n , M w , and M z . Based upon these results, comment on whether this sample has a
broad or narrow molecular-weight distribution compared to typical commercial polymer samples.
Solution
Fraction # Mi (10-3) Wi Ni = Wi/Mi (105)
1 20 1 5.0
2 40 1 2.5
3 60 1 1.67
4 80 1 1.25
5 100 1 1.0
300 5 11.42
5
5
M n Wi N 43,783
i 1 1.142 104
5
W M i i 300, 000
M i1
60,000
w 5
5
W i
i 1
5
M
WM
i1
i i2
4 108 16 108 36 108 64 108 100 108
73,333
z 5
3105
W M
i1
i i
Mz 60,000
1.37 (narrow distribution)
Mn 43,783
1-2 A 50-gm polymer sample was fractionated into six samples of different weights given in the table
below. The viscosity-average molecular weight, M v , of each was determined and is included in the table.
Estimate the number-average and weight-average molecular weights of the original sample. For these
calculations, assume that the molecular-weight distribution of each fraction is extremely narrow and can
1
This text is associated with Fried/Polymer Science and Technology, Third Edition
(9780137039555) .
,be considered to be monodisperse. Would you classify the molecular weight distribution of the original
sample as narrow or broad?
Fraction Weight Mv
(gm)
1 1.0 1,500
2 5.0 35,000
3 21.0 75,000
4 15.0 150,000
5 6.5 400,000
6 1.5 850,000
Solution
Let M i M v
Fraction Wi Mi Ni = Wi/Mi WiMi
(106)
1 1.0 1,500 667 1500
2 5.0 35,000 143 175.000
3 21.0 75,000 280 627,500
4 15.0 150,000 100. 2,250,000
5 6.5 400,000 16.3 2,600,000
6 1.5 850,000 1.76 1,275,000
50.0 1208 7,929,000
6
50.0
M n Wi N 41,322
i 1 1.21103
6
W M i i 7,930, 000
M i1
158,600
w 6
50.0
W i
i 1
Mw 158, 600
3.84 (broad distribution)
Mn 41,322
1-3 The Schultz–Zimm [11] molecular-weight-distribution function can be written as
b1
a
W M M b exp aM
b 1
where a and b are adjustable parameters (b is a positive real number) and is the gamma function (see
Appendix E) which is used to normalize the weight fraction.
(a) Using this relationship, obtain expressions for M n and M w in terms of a and b and an expression for
M max , the molecular weight at the peak of the W(M) curve, in terms of M n .
Solution
Mn
0
WdM
W
0
M dM
let t = aM
2
This text is associated with Fried/Polymer Science and Technology, Third Edition
(9780137039555) .
, ab1 b ab1 1 b 1
0 WdM b 1 0 t a exp t d t a
b 1 ab1 0
t exp t dt
b 1
b 1 1
1 b1
ab1 b1
ab1 ab1 1
0 W M dM b 1 0 t a exp t d t a b 1 ab 0 t exp t dt b 1 ab b
a b a
bb b
1 b
Mn
ab a
0
WMdM
ab1
b1 ab1 b 2
Mw
WMdM b 1 0 t a exp t d t a
b 1 ab2
0 WdM
0
b 1b 1 b 1
ab 1 a
(b) Derive an expression for Mmax, the molecular weight at the peak of the W(M) curve, in terms of M n .
Solution
dW a b1
bM b1 exp aM M b aexp aM 0
dM b 1
bM ba aM b
b
(i.e., the maximum occurs at M n )
a M Mn
a
(c) Show how the value of b affects the molecular weight distribution by graphing W(M) versus M on the
same plot for b = 0.1, 1, and 10 given that M n = 10,000 for the three distributions.
Solution
b
a
10,000
b 0.1 1 10
a 110-5 110-4 110-3
b1
W a M b exp aM dM
b 1
where b 1 aM exp aM dM .
b
0
Plot W(M) versus M
Hint: xn exp ax dx n 1 an1 n! an1 (if n is a positive interger).
0
3
This text is associated with Fried/Polymer Science and Technology, Third Edition
(9780137039555) .