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How do you make a polymer solution? How do you dissolve a polymer in a liquid?
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+ Liquids
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Posted by
Adam Reisman
How do you make a polymer solution? How do you dissolve a polymer in a liquid?
Polymer solution can be prepared by mixing the polymer with solvent.
In order to make a polymer solution, its very important to find out the suitable solvent for the desired polymer.
One of the method to find out the suitable solvent for the polymer is by choosing the solvent having Solubility parameter close to the polymer.
Once you have chosen the solvent, cut the polymer in to very small pieces and put into solvent. To be on the safer side, use higher solvent : polymer ratio like 50:1.
Some polymer (highly crystalline) does not dissolve at room temperature - high temperature at around 60–70 degree celcius can be used. One can also use magnetic stirrer to make the dissolution quicker.
Polymer solution can be prepared by mixing the polymer with solvent.
In order to make a polymer solution, its very important to find out the suitable solvent for the desired polymer.
One of the method to find out the suitable solvent for the polymer is by choosing the solvent having Solubility parameter close to the polymer.
Once you have chosen the solvent, cut the polymer in to very small pieces and put into solvent. To be on the safer side, use higher solvent : polymer ratio like 50:1.
Some polymer (highly crystalline) does not dissolve at room temperature - high temperature at around 60–70 degree celcius can be used. One can also use magnetic stirrer to make the dissolution quicker.
Yeah! You need a river, a lake, a large pond, something large enough for the elephant to stand in, turn around, and then bathe herself.
Polymer molecules are elephants, in comparison to much smaller molecules like NaCl, CH3OH or glucose.
Dissolving a polymer first requires un-entangling the coiled, clustered, semi-crystalline polymer into the semblance of individual molecules. Then you have to disperse these individual molecules in the midst of solvent molecules. It is sort of like trying to disperse spaghetti in a pot of water. Lots of stirring and pulling to get rid of the tangle.
But, it is certainly possible to dissolve polymers in a solvent. It requires starting with fairly small quantities of polymer (the higher the molecular weight, lower will be the solubility). And it requires a lot of coaxing and cajoling - stirring/agitation, temperature increase, changing pH, shaking (ultra-sonic) etc. are techniques used to dissolve polymers. Care must be taken to ensure that the polymer itself is not degraded during the dissolution process.
But, you can dissolve a polymer if you do it carefully, with patience. After some amount of cajoling, it might even dissolve on its own, by itself.
Yeah! You need a river, a lake, a large pond, something large enough for the elephant to stand in, turn around, and then bathe herself.
Polymer molecules are elephants, in comparison to much smaller molecules like NaCl, CH3OH or glucose.
Dissolving a polymer first requires un-entangling the coiled, clustered, semi-crystalline polymer into the semblance of individual molecules. Then you have to disperse these individual molecules in the midst of solvent molecules. It is sort of like trying to disperse spaghetti in a pot of water. Lots of stirring and pulling to get rid of the tangle.
But, it is certainly possible to dissolve polymers in a solvent. It requires starting with fairly small quantities of polymer (the higher the molecular weight, lower will be the solubility). And it requires a lot of coaxing and cajoling - stirring/agitation, temperature increase, changing pH, shaking (ultra-sonic) etc. are techniques used to dissolve polymers. Care must be taken to ensure that the polymer itself is not degraded during the dissolution process.
But, you can dissolve a polymer if you do it carefully, with patience. After some amount of cajoling, it might even dissolve on its own, by itself.
Polymer solution can be prepared by mixing the polymer with solvent.
In order to make a polymer solution, its very important to find out the suitable solvent for the desired polymer.
One of the method to find out the suitable solvent for the polymer is by choosing the solvent having Solubility parameter close to the polymer.
Once you have chosen the solvent, cut the polymer in to very small pieces and put into solvent. To be on the safer side, use higher solvent : polymer ratio like 50:1.
Some polymer (highly crystalline) does not dissolve at room temperature - high temperature at around 60–70 degree celcius can be used. One can also use magnetic stirrer to make the dissolution quicker.
Polymer solution can be prepared by mixing the polymer with solvent.
In order to make a polymer solution, its very important to find out the suitable solvent for the desired polymer.
One of the method to find out the suitable solvent for the polymer is by choosing the solvent having Solubility parameter close to the polymer.
Once you have chosen the solvent, cut the polymer in to very small pieces and put into solvent. To be on the safer side, use higher solvent : polymer ratio like 50:1.
Some polymer (highly crystalline) does not dissolve at room temperature - high temperature at around 60–70 degree celcius can be used. One can also use magnetic stirrer to make the dissolution quicker.
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How do you bathe an elephant?
Yeah! You need a river, a lake, a large pond, something large enough for the elephant to stand in, turn around, and then bathe herself.
Polymer molecules are elephants, in comparison to much smaller molecules like NaCl, CH3OH or glucose.
Dissolving a polymer first requires un-entangling the coiled, clustered, semi-crystalline polymer into the semblance of individual molecules. Then you have to disperse these individual molecules in the midst of solvent molecules. It is sort of like trying to disperse spaghetti in a pot of water. Lots of stirring and pulling to get rid of the tangle.
But, it is certainly possible to dissolve polymers in a solvent. It requires starting with fairly small quantities of polymer (the higher the molecular weight, lower will be the solubility). And it requires a lot of coaxing and cajoling - stirring/agitation, temperature increase, changing pH, shaking (ultra-sonic) etc. are techniques used to dissolve polymers. Care must be taken to ensure that the polymer itself is not degraded during the dissolution process.
But, you can dissolve a polymer if you do it carefully, with patience. After some amount of cajoling, it might even dissolve on its own, by itself.
Just like bathing an elephant.
How do you bathe an elephant?
Yeah! You need a river, a lake, a large pond, something large enough for the elephant to stand in, turn around, and then bathe herself.
Polymer molecules are elephants, in comparison to much smaller molecules like NaCl, CH3OH or glucose.
Dissolving a polymer first requires un-entangling the coiled, clustered, semi-crystalline polymer into the semblance of individual molecules. Then you have to disperse these individual molecules in the midst of solvent molecules. It is sort of like trying to disperse spaghetti in a pot of water. Lots of stirring and pulling to get rid of the tangle.
But, it is certainly possible to dissolve polymers in a solvent. It requires starting with fairly small quantities of polymer (the higher the molecular weight, lower will be the solubility). And it requires a lot of coaxing and cajoling - stirring/agitation, temperature increase, changing pH, shaking (ultra-sonic) etc. are techniques used to dissolve polymers. Care must be taken to ensure that the polymer itself is not degraded during the dissolution process.
But, you can dissolve a polymer if you do it carefully, with patience. After some amount of cajoling, it might even dissolve on its own, by itself.
Just like bathing an elephant.
More
VOTE