Abstract
Abstract
Use of aqueous-phase polymers as stabilizers for contaminant barrier materials against cracking in the field requires optimization of polymer solution concentration, barrier material mix composition, and mixing conditions. Physicochemical characteristics of the polymer solution such as viscosity, conformation of dissolved polymer molecules, and polydispersity affect the response of polymer-amended barrier materials to desiccation stresses imposed by a combination of low relative humidity and high temperature. In this Part I of the two-part article, the viscosity–concentration characteristics of aqueous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and chitosan (CHT) were experimentally analyzed. Results indicate that the intrinsic viscosities of polymer solutions can be affected by polydispersity of the polymers. Also, the use of NaCl solution as a solvent for the negatively charged CMC promotes cationic–dipole interactions that maintain linearity of the viscosity/concentration ratio vs. concentration plots that would otherwise not be possible with distilled water as the solvent. This indicates that in the field, interactions with soil pore solutions of nonneutral chemistry should be considered during stabilization of barrier materials against rapid deterioration.
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