The dielectric increments of aqueous polyelectrolyte solutions: a scaling approach Original Research Article

This paper deals with dielectric dispersion curves (covering a frequency range from a few Hz to 100 MHz) of Na_poly(styrene-sulfonate) of 65 000≤Mw≤1 060 000 g mol−1 in aqueous solutions. The values of the low frequency (Δ∈1) and high frequency (Δ∈2) dielectric increments, obtained from the experimental curves matched to a superposition of two Cole–Cole equations, have been analyzed in terms of their concentration and molar mass dependence. The concentrations C (g l−1) of the various solutions were mostly situated in the transition regime defined by Odijk [T. Odijk, Macromolecules 12 (1979) 688] between the dilute regime (CC**), and wherein the characteristic concentration C* marks the onset of flexibility effects on the polyion behavior. It has been shown that in the concentration range Cg*