Abstract
Intrinsic viscosity, [η], weight‐average molecular weight, Mw, relationships are reported for narrow molecular weight distribution linear polyisoprene and polystyrene samples in CCl4 at 25°C. Molecular weight values cover a range nearly two orders in magnitude, extending as low as 3 × 103. In the case of polystyrene there exists a molecular weight range (around Mw = 16,700) corresponding to a change in the Mark‐Houwink‐Sakurada (MHS) exponent from α = 0.71 to α = 0.54. Comparisons between the viscometric and hydrodynamic radii, from literature data, are made. For polyisoprene the MHS relationship is reported in CCl4, for the first time. For this case α = 0.713 for the whole range of molecular weights studied. Values for the second virial coefficient from low‐angle light‐scattering measurements support the conclusions drawn from viscometry that CCl4 is a good solvent for both polymers studied. The different behavior of the MHS exponent may be attributed to the difference in chain flexibility. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.