Complex viscosity of star-branched macromolecules from analytical general rigid bead-rod theory

The complex viscosity of planar star-branched polymers has been derived from general rigid bead-rod theory, but only for singly-beaded arms. Here, we explore the respective roles branch functionality, arm length, and nonplanar arrangements, analytically theory. For nonplanar, include polyhedral, both regular irregular. Further, all structures, compare with without central bead. We fit theory to measurements on polybutadiene solutions, one quadrafunctional star-branched, other unbranched, same molecular weight ( Mw=200 000 g/gmol). learn that when is applied polybutadiene, a slightly irregular center-beaded tetrahedron interior angle 134° required (with 1 360 g/gmol per bead) describe its behavior.