Universal solvent quality crossover of the zero shear rate viscosity of semidilute DNA solutions

Abstract

The scaling behaviour of the zero shear rate viscosity of semidilute unentangled DNA solutions, in the double crossover regime driven by temperature and concentration, is mapped out by systematic experiments. The viscosity is shown to have a power law dependence on the scaled concentration $c/c^*$, with an effective exponent that depends on the solvent quality parameter $z$. The determination of the form of this universal crossover scaling function requires the estimation of the $\theta$ temperature of dilute DNA solutions in the presence of excess salt, and the determination of the solvent quality parameter at any given molecular weight and temperature. The $\theta$ temperature is determined to be $T_\theta \approx 15^\circ$ C using static light scattering, and the solvent quality parameter has been determined by dynamic light scattering.