INTRODUCTION

Viscosity of a fluid is a measure of resistance to flow. Normally viscosity of a fluid depends on the
fluid properties such as molecule sizes and interaction with those molecules as well as the external
environmental conditions such as temperature.

When considering polymers their average molecular weight is related to the viscosity of the polymer
under specific conditions. Molecular weight measure using viscosity technique is known as viscosity
average molecular weight.

In the practical intrinsic viscosity of a polymer is used to determine the viscosity average molecular
weight of the poly styrene. Here solutions of poly styrene in different concentrations is prepared using
toluene as a solvent and time spent each solution to travel between the marked point of viscometer is
measured. Then by using given equations, relationship between intrinsic viscosity and viscosity
average molecular weight is developed using graphical method.
CALCULATION

Concentration
(dl/g) Time (s) Ƞr Ƞsp Ƞsp/C ln (Ƞr)/C
0.25 76 1.1875 0.1875 0.75 0.6874
0.5 89.5 1.3984 0.3984 0.7969 0.6707
1 121 1.8906 0.8906 0.8906 0.6369
2 203 3.1719 0.1719 1.0859 0.5772

Graph:

1.2
y = 0.1921x + 0.7008
1

0.8
Ƞsp/C

0.6 ln (Ƞr)/C
y = -0.0629x + 0.702
Linear (Ƞsp/C)
0.4 Linear (ln (Ƞr)/C)

0.2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

According to the above two plots, those two plots will cut the y axis around (0.7008+0.702)/2 = 0.7014
DISCUSSION

 Introduction to viscosity and viscosity average molecular weight:

Viscosity is a measure of resistance to flow of a fluid. This resistance is due to the friction produced by
the fluid’s molecules. Also viscosity of a fluid governs the flow characteristics, heat transfer and mass
transfer. Viscosity of a fluid decreases with increasing of temperature as intermolecular forces
decreases and increases when fluid become cooler. More viscous fluids are shows sticky behavior.
Viscosity of a material depends on the size and shape of the molecules. So fluids with larger and
complex molecules show higher viscosity. Viscosity is an important factor for mixing characteristics.

Intrinsic viscosities of polymers are generally measured to get an idea about the molecular weight of
polymers. Normally intrinsic viscosity of polymers is measure by preparing a solution of polymer and
comparer the time spent for solution and pure solvent to travel through a capillary. This is relative easy
method and average molecular weight can be obtained by graphical method (when concentration of
tends to zero). Obtained average molecular weight is depends on the type of solvent used. The
obtained molecular weight is known as viscosity average molecular weight. Also intrinsic viscosity is
related to the degree of polymerization. As the intrinsic viscosity is measure of molecular weight &
degree of polymerization, it gives an idea about the properties related to molecular weight such as
material’s melting point, crystallinity and tensile strength.

Molecules in a polymer have different sizes of chain length and hence can’t fine specific single
molecular weight. So when dealing with the polymers, molecular weight is measured as average value.
Molecular weight measured using viscometer according to above method (intrinsic viscosity) is called
as viscosity average molecular weight.

Where Ƞ = Intrinsic viscosity, M = viscosity average molecular weight and K & α are constants for a
particular polymer solvent system. Normally polymer having lower viscosity average molecular
weight has shorter chains and showing less viscous. Also polymer having higher average molecular
weight has longer chains and showing high viscous. Normally α is varying from 0.5 to 0.85 and if α is
0.5 it is flexible polymer in ideal solvent.

Also by considering the individual molecule viscosity average molecule can be expressed as:

∑ where

 Analysis of the results and errors:

According to the results viscosity average molecular weight of poly styrene for toluene solvent is
obtain as According to the literature viscosity average molecular weight for poly
5
styrene is about 3 X 10 at 130 °C. So our practical value is higher than literature value. This may
mainly due to practical errors such as measuring errors in stop watch, contamination of solution etc.
solvent and solution amount prepared for practical washing the equipment is not sufficient. So
contamination can occur. Also environmental condition is not same as standard conditions. So it can
affect to the viscosity of the solution and hence leads to error. But results were able to plot in linear
manner and their intercept are also nearly close. This is an easy method to predict the molecular
weight.
  Importance of the practical and viscosity average molecular weight:

Determination of average molecular weight using viscosity average molecular weight technique is very
easy and simple. Also calculation methods are also simple and rapid. So results can be obtained very
quickly. One drawback of this method is results depend on the solvent used.

Viscosity average molecular weight is reflection of the average molecular weight of the polymer. So
viscosity average molecular weight gives an idea about properties with related to average molecular
weight such as stiffness, strength, viscoelasticity, toughness, and viscosity. Also it gives an idea of the
transition temperature of the polymers to liquid. So if a polymer has low molecular weight then it
shows low mechanical properties and low transition temperature and vice versa. Also average
molecular weight gives an idea about the complexity and length of the polymer molecule. If molecule
has higher molecular weight then the complexity and length of the molecule is high. Also this
viscosity average molecular weight is useful in comparing different polymer samples. By doing so,
idea about the properties of different polymers can be gain. Also when comparing the compounds of
same polymer sample from different origin or different polymerization techniques. Polymer with broad
molecular weight distribution shows less viscosity.

 Important to industrial applications:

When using a polymer for specific application or manufacturing processes in industry, transition
temperature of that polymer should be considered according to the application. As average molecular
weight related to the transition temperature in proportional manner, by looking at viscosity average
molecular weight transitions temperature of the polymer can be predicted. Also mechanical properties
of the polymer are related with average molecular weight. So when selecting particular polymer for
specific application, correct polymer can be chosen by looking at the viscosity average molecular
weight.

Also flow properties of a polymer is depends on viscosity and therefore it is depends on average
molecular viscosity. Most of the time viscosity of polymer determines the process and process
conditions. So viscosity average molecular weight gives an important conception about the process
which should be used and controlling of that process according to the given polymeric material.
Normally viscous polymeric materials are used for injection molding process and low viscous
polymers are used for blow molding or extrusion processes.
REFEERENCES

 http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Physical_Properties_of_Matter/Intermolecula
r_Forces/Viscosity
 http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4577
 http://www.springerreference.com/docs/html/chapterdbid/218710.html
 http://www.ias.ac.in/initiat/sci_ed/resources/chemistry/MolWeight.pdf
 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01974771