The self-diffusion of polymers

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Abstract
The mobility and self-diffusion of polymer molecules in concentrated systems or in the molten bulk state is largely controlled by entanglements between the molecules. These entanglements are a result of the chain-like nature of the molecules and of their extended, coil-like configuration. The conformation and mobility of polymer molecules in dilute solution—which are relatively well understood—are discussed; this leads to a consideration of self-diffusion in the more concentrated states and in the bulk polymer melt, and several special properties of polymers which are controlled and modified by the molecular self-diffusion are examined. Our current theoretical understanding of polymeric self-diffusion in highly entangled systems is outlined, and the ways in which such diffusion may be studied experimentally are briefly described. The final part of the review describes a recent experimental study of self-diffusion in a polymer melt; the results of this study may provide new insight into the motion of entangled, chain-like molecules.

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