Effect of composition and gelation conditions on structural changes accompanying the gelation of PAN, PVA and gelatin solutions

For three types of polymer-solvent systems: polyacrylonitrile in dimethylformamide, polyvinyl alcohol in water and gelatin in water the isothermal gelation process was followed with viscometry, light scattering and X-ray diffraction techniques. Effects of thermal history (quenching, melting) and solvent composition were investigated. It was found that the variation of structure as revealed by these methods (molecular aggregation, crystallization etc.) is not specific for the gelation itself but associated with some side-processes which result from retarded phase separation. The molecular mechanism of “pure gelation” proceeding at unchanged supramolecular structure is discussed.