Solution Properties of Branched Macromolecules

Dilute and semi-dilute solution properties of several classes of branched macromolecules are outlined and discussed. The dilute solution properties are needed for a control of the chemical synthesis. The molecular parameters also determine the overlap concentration which is an essential quantity for description of the semi-dilute state. This state is represented by a multi-particle, highly entangled ensemble that exhibits certain similarities to the corresponding bulk systems. Because of the rich versatility in branching the present contribution made a selection and deals specifically with the two extremes of regularly branched polymers, on the one hand, and the randomly branched macromolecules on the other. Some properties of hyperbranched chains are included, whereas the many examples of slight deviations from regularity are mentioned only in passing. The treatment of the two extremes demonstrates the complexity to be expected in the general case of less organized but non-randomly branched systems. However, it also discloses certain common features.