Limit of Superheat of Polystyrene-Cyclohexane Solutions: Theory

A theory for the surface tension of polymer solutions is used along with classical nucleation theory to predict the temperature rise above the solvent limit of superheat due to addition of polymer. Polystyrene, of 2000 and 4000 molecular weight, was added to cyclohexane and it produced a linear rise in the superheat to an extent that depends upon both molecular weight and concentration. The theory is used in the athermal case (dT = 0) to give the additional temperature rise with respect to weight fraction.