Abstract
This study investigates the rheological properties of in-situ polymerized solutions of polyacrylonitrile(PAN) and acrylonitrile(AN)-itaconic acid(IA) in dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) in terms of temperature, concentration, and time. The complex viscosity and storage modulus of the solutions were generally increased with elapsing time, which is ascribable to the three-dimensional pseudostructures formed by strong inter- or intra-molecular attractions through Polar -CN and -COOH groups. The three-dimensional pseudonetworks would lead to gelation of the acrylic solutions in long term. This was more noticeable at higher temperature within the temperature range examined. In the case of 20% solutions one can not observe lower Newtonian flow region in the viscosity curve. Disappearance of lower Newtonian flow region is indicative of heterogeneity of the solution system. Casson Plot of the viscosity data revealed that 20% solutions of PAN and AN-IA copolymer in DMSO clearly demonstrated positive yield stress, ascertaining formation of pseudostructures in the solution systems.