Molecular thermodynamic model for associated polymers^†

A molecular thermodynamic model for homopolymer and copolymer systems with association segments was established by adopting the molecular thermodynamic model for hardsphere-chain fluid as a reference, a perturbation term contributed by the square-well potential and a contribution of association terms. The latter considers the multi-associated-segments in a chain-like molecule based on the shield-sticky model of chemical association. The model can be used to correlate the pVT of melten homopolymer and copolymer. Good agreements with experimental data have been obtained.