Structure and Intermolecular Interactions in Aqueous Solutions of Polyethylene Glycol

Aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol are studied by small-angle neutron scattering over a broad range of polymer molecular masses and concentrations. The scattering data were modeled by a Gaussian chain form factor combined with random phase approximation, which provided good fits over the whole studied concentration range. The results showed that polyethylene glycol in the molecular mass range [Formula: see text] –20 kDa in water at physiological temperature T = 37 [Formula: see text] C behaves like a random coil in nearly theta solvent conditions. The obtained results serve as a reference for the description of complex mixtures with PEG used in various applications.