Polymer Molecular Weight by Viscosity

Objective:
To determine the average molar mass of polyvinyl alcohol polymer (PVA) by
measuring the viscosity of solutions of the water-soluble polymer.

Introduction:
Viscosity is the ability of liquids to flow and overcome the internal frictions that
occur and exist between liquid layers.

Where

is the coefficient of viscosity of a fluid, or the viscosity, F is the

frictional force between planes of area A, and

is the change in Vx in the y-

direction.
The flow time therefore will be inversely proportional to the density of the
liquid and proportional to the viscosity of the liquid.

We will measure the viscosity of solutions of the water-soluble polymer

polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and use the viscosity data to find the molar mass

(g/mol) of the polymer. Applying the upper equation, where, 1 and o are the
viscosity of PVA solution and water, respectively. t1 and t2 are viscometer flow
times for equal volumes of water or PVA solution. 1 and o are the densities of
PVA solution and water, respectively at room temperature.

The specific viscosity (sp):

the

reduced viscosity is derived from specific viscosity and

concentration as:

When we plot the reduced viscosity red vs. the PVA concentration,
and extrapolate to C = 0, we find the intrinsic viscosity []:
[] = lim(red)C0
Finally, we use the Mark-Houwink-Sakuraka (MHS) equation to relate
the intrinsic [] to the molar mass of the polymer solute M:

K and a are semi-empirical constants that depend on the nature of both

polymer and solvent.

Results:

Concentratio

Mass of

Mass of

Mass of

Mass of

p1 =

PVA

empty

solution +

solution

(w1\w0)p0

viscomete

viscomete

water

26.2667g 51.6005g 25.3338g

0.9982

0.5%

10g

26.2667g 51.6135g 25.3468g

0.9987

1.0%

20g

26.2667g 51.6531g 25.3864g

1.0007

1.5%

30g

26.2667g 51.6813g 25.4146g

1.0011

2.0%

40g

26.2667g 51.6941g 25.4274g

1.0019

2.5%

50g

26.2667g 51.7160g 25.4459g

1.0027

Sample calculation for PVA concentration = 0.5%

P1 = ( 25.3468\25.3338)x0.9982 = 0.9987 g\mL.
The same calculations were done for other solutions.

C g\dL

P (g\mL)

t(s)

sp

red(dL/g
)

mPa.s

water

0.9982

10

1.020

0.5%

0.9987

12

1.220

0.1961

0.3922

1.0%

1.0007

14

1.432

0.4039

0.4039

1.5%

1.0011

17

1.739

0.7190

0.4793

2.0%

1.0019

20

2.048

1.028

0.5140

2.5%

1.0027

33

3.381

2.315

0.9260

Sample calculations for 0.5%:

= ( 1.220 1.020)\1.020 = 0.1961
= 0.1961\0.5 = 0.3922 dL\g
The same calculations were done for other solutions.

By plot
vs concentration using Excel program, we
get the following figures:

f(x) = 0.24x + 0.19

f(x) = 0.09x + 0.34

The last sample is far from the others, so I neglect it as

shown in the second figure.

The intercept = 0.3372

0.3372

2.0 x 10-4 M0.67

M0.67 = 1686 , M = 65495 g\mol.

Conclusion:
The average molecular mass of a polymer can be
measured by the viscosity properties of the polymer,
the last sample is neglected from the last calculation,
because it appear far from the trend line, to know
exactly if this point must be rejected or not, a detailed
statistical analysis should be done.
The average of the polymer is large value as expected.