thicken liquids, stabilize dispersions, or control flow properties. For example, polymer additives in foods improve texture, while those in paints help control drip and spreading.

Thermodynamics plays a central role in understanding polymer solutions. The Flory-Huggins theory describes how the balance between enthalpic and entropic contributions determines whether a polymer will dissolve in a given solvent. Temperature also influences solubility, as some polymer solutions undergo phase separation