Ultrasonic absorption and visco-relaxation study of poly(vinyl alcohol) aqueous solution. (A method for the determination of molecular weight)

Ultrasonic absorption and velocity measurements are reported on aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PV-OH) of different molecular weights and concentrations obtained using a pulsed ultrasonic apparatus operating at 2 MHz and 303 K. The variations in these parameters as a function of concentration are interpreted in terms of changes in the magnitude of the contribution due to relaxation of the backbone and of the side chain acetyl groups. The results show an increase in velocity, density and viscosity with increase in molecular weight and concentration of PV-OH. In contrast the attenuation values decrease with increase in molecular weight. This suggests that interaction is occurring between PV-OH and water molecules. Deviation of the variation of the attenuation with concentration from the ‘ideal’ dilute solution behaviour at high concentration is ascribed to the effects of polymer-polymer interaction. The magnitude of the volume change associated with polymer-solvent interactions is estimated and discussed. A mathematical equation correlating the relaxation amplitude and the molecular weight of the polymer is suggested. This approach was applied to the calculation of the molecular weight of four unknown samples of PV-OH from their measured relaxation amplitudes. The results obtained agree well with those obtained from osmometry.