Linear viscoelastic properties of mixtures of 3- and 4-arm polybutadiene stars

The viscoelastic properties of a three-arm and a four-arm star polybutadiene with the same arm molecular weight (M_a) were studied. The zero-shear recoverable compliance (J⁰_e) and plateau modulus (G⁰_N) for these stars are the same. The zero-shear viscosity (η₀) of the three-arm star is 20% lower than that of the four-arm star. Mixtures of the stars had J⁰_e and G⁰_N unchanged. A $\text{50}\text{50}$ mixture of the three- and four-arm star was diluted with a low molecular weight linear polybutadiene. G⁰_N∝ø²; J⁰_e∝ø^?1 and M_e∝ø^?1, as expected for dilution with a θ-solvent.