Viscoelastic properties of polyelectrolyte solutions in non-entangled concentrated regions

Viscoelastic properties of non-entangled concentrated aqueous solutions of three sodium polystyrenesulfonates with low molecular weights were measured in oscillation flows. Master curves of dynamic moduli were obtained by shifting the moduli data measured at different concentrations along the frequency (ω) axis for each molecular weight. The concentration shift factor used in making the master curves composes a single line irrespective of molecular weight. Storage and loss moduli are proportional to ω 2 and ω, respectively, in the terminal region, while they are proportional to ω 1/2 in the transition region. All the master curves can be well represented by the modified Rouse theory using the experimental values of concentration, molecular weight and viscosity in a reference state.