Dependence of flow birefringence of intrinsic viscosity in solutions of stiff-chain polymers☆

Abstract The dependence of reduced birefringence on intrinsic viscosity in solutions of kinetically stiff macromolecular chains has been interpreted by combining modern theories of the two phenomena. The applicability of the derived relationships is demonstrated on examples of previously studied stiff-chain polymers; values of segment length calculated from the dependence of reduced birefringence on molecular weight and on intrinsic viscosity are compared.