Studies of Polymer Solvation by Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy III: Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone in N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone, Ethanediol, Methanol, and Water

The permittivity of the title solutions has been measured at frequencies between some MHz and 72 GHz at 20 °C. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone of relative molar mass ranging from 1200 to 360 000 has been used. Referring to the concentration of monomeric repeat units (x = 0.65 maximum) there is no significant chain length effect. The permittivity data are described in terms of discrete Debye type spectral components. Special attention is paid to the contributions ascribable to the solvents, which are discussed with respect to their solvation behaviour. This can be described by a three state solvent model as follows. Besides the "bulk" solvent a further contribution is found in any case which is due to loosely affected (slowed down) solvent. Moreover a part of the solvent appears to be tightly bound to the polymer at high concentrations. All the solvents considered show similar solvation properties, notwithstanding their different tendencies towards selfassociation.