Polyion conformation and second virial coefficient dependences on the ionic strength for flexible polyelectrolyte solutions

The rayon of gyration of poly(xylylene tetrahydrothiophenium chloride) in dilute solutions was found to be very dependent on the solution ionic strength. The second virial coefficient also decreased with increasing ionic strength. The data were analyzed in the framework of a wormlike chain with electrostatic contributions to the persistance length.