The Thermodynamics of High-Polymer Solutions: II. The Solubility and Fractionation of a Polymer of Heterogeneous Distribution

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Abstract
The free energy relations for heterogeneous molecular weight distributions developed in Part I, are applied to problems of solubility and fractionation. Critical conditions for solubility are obtained. A rigorous expression for the solubility is derived, although certain approximations are made to facilitate calculation, and to permit extension to polymers which are part ``gel.'' Following the same methods the thermodynamic equilibria involved in fractionation are described by mathematical expressions which permit a comparison of the extraction and precipitation methods. The effectiveness of fractionation is shown to be strongly dependent upon concentration.