Absence of reptation in highly confined polymers

We present results of mechanical stress relaxation measurements on polymers confined at the air-water interface in the form of a monolayer. Systematic measurements allow, to our knowledge, for the first time, observation of the scaling of the stress relaxation time of the highly confined polymers as a function of both surface concentration and molecular weight. The observed scaling is found to be very close to that expected for motion of unentangled polymer solutions with hydrodynamic interactions. Our experimental observations thus clearly rule out the possibility of entanglement and hence reptation as a mode of relaxation in such highly confined polymeric systems.

EFFECT OF REPTATION ON FRACTURE-MECHANICS OF RUBBER NETWORKS

End-linked hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene containing unattached linear polybutadiene was used to study the effect of reptating species on the fracture mechanics of rubber networks. The concentration of reptating species in the networks ranged from 0 to 100%. The fracture mechanics of the networks was described using the critical strain energy release rate in mode III testing, i.e. the tearing energy. The tearing energy was measured at room temperature using a 'trouser' specimen at a strain rate spanning five logarithmic decades. When the strain rate was as low as 10(-4) s-1, the tearing energy of the networks increased with reduction in reptating species. In this case the reptating species did not contribute to the tearing energy of the networks due to relaxation. Hence, the tearing energy increased with the number of crosslinked chains per unit volume in the networks. At a strain rate ranging from 10(-3) to 10(-1) s-1, the tearing energy of the networks was governed by local viscosity. The tearing energies of the networks containing various amounts of reptating species were superimposed to give a master curve based on the Williams-Landel-Ferry equation.

Application of Reptation Quantum Monte Carlo and Related Methods to LiH

This work investigates mathematical details and computational aspects of Metropolis-Hastings reptation quantum Monte Carlo and its variants, in addition to the Bounce method and its variants. The issues that concern us include the sensitivity of these algorithms' target densities to the position of the trial electron density along the reptile, time-reversal symmetry of the propagators, and the length of the reptile. We calculate the ground-state energy and one-electron properties of LiH at its equilibrium geometry for all these algorithms. The importance sampling is performed with a single-determinant large Slater-type orbitals (STO) basis set. The computer codes were written to exploit the efficiencies engineered into modern, high-performance computing software. Using the Bounce method in the calculation of non-energy-related properties, those represented by operators that do not commute with the Hamiltonian, is a novel work. We found that the unmodified Bounce gives good ground state energy and very good one-electron properties. We attribute this to its favourable time-reversal symmetry in its target density's Green's functions. Breaking this symmetry gives poorer results. Use of a short reptile in the Bounce method does not alter the quality of the results. This suggests that in future applications one can use a shorter reptile to cut down the computational time dramatically.

Multiwalled-carbon-nanotube-induced miscibility in near-critical PS/PVME blends: assessment through concentration fluctuations and segmental relaxation

The effects of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the concentration fluctuations, interfacial driven elasticity, phase morphology, and local segmental dynamics of chains for near-critical compositions of polystyrene/poly(vinyl to methyl ether) (PS/PVME) blends were systematically investigated using dynamic shear rheology and dielectric spectroscopy. The contribution of the correlation length (xi) of the concentration fluctuations to the evolving stresses was monitored in situ to probe the different stages of demixing in the blends. The classical upturn in the dynamic moduli was taken as the rheological demixing temperature (T-rheo), which was also observed to be in close agreement with those obtained using concentration fluctuation variance, <(delta phi)(2)>, versus temperature curves. Further, Fredrickson and Larson's approach involving the mean-field approximation and the double-reptation self-concentration (DRSC) model was employed to evaluate the spinodal decomposition temperature (T-s). Interestingly, the values of both T-rheo and T-s shifted upward in the blends in the presence of MWNTs, manifesting in molecular-level miscibility. These phenomenal changes were further observed to be a function of the concentration of MWNTs. The evolution of morphology as a function of temperature was studied using polarized optical microscopy (POM). It was observed that PVME, which evolved as an interconnected network during the early stages of demixing, coarsened into a matrix-droplet morphology in the late stages. The preferential wetting of PVME onto MWNTs as a result of physicochemical interactions retained the interconnected network of PVME for longer time scales, as supported by POM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images. Microscopic heterogeneity in macroscopically miscible systems was studied by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The slowing of segmental relaxations in PVME was observed in the presence of both ``frozen'' PS and MWNTs interestingly at temperatures much below the calorimetric glass transition temperature (T-g). This phenomenon was observed to be local rather than global and was addressed by monitoring the evolution of the relaxation spectra near and above the demixing temperature.

分子间链缠结与高聚物的转变和松驰

玻璃化转变与结构松驰是高聚物的两个非常重要的现象，对高聚物的许多物理性质、使用温度范围、以及长期使用性能等都起着至关重要的决定作用。影响高聚物的玻璃化转变温度的因素有高聚物结构单元的化学结构，分子量的大小以及分布，分子链间的交联以及结晶等，而高聚物的链缠结对其玻璃化转变湿度也有着重要的影响。高聚物的链缠结概念首先是由高聚物的分子量--粘度之间的关系得出的。1940 年 Flory 首先发现对于柔性链聚合物而言，其液态的零切粘度同其分子量成正比；此后，1948 年 Fox 和 Flory 发现当聚合物链的长度超过某一临界值时，粘度与分子量的 3.4 次方成正比，而在临界值之下时粘度与他子量的 1 次方成正比。Bueche 于 1952 年首次提出了高聚物链缠结的概念，并对粘度与分子量的关系进行了成功的解释。链缠结从此之后就成为线性高聚物的一个重要特征并成为控制熔（溶）体流变和固体形变机制的关键因素。关于链缠结的理论也有许多，其中应用最为广泛的有蛇链模型（Reptation Model）和管子模型（Tube Model）等。1969年 Flory 提出聚合物的性质同其均方无扰尺寸有关，此后Doi 和 Edwards 得出了高聚物的链缠结同其无扰尺寸的关系。在通常情况下高聚物在本体状态下是以无规线团的形式彼此相互缠绕在一起的，根本无法相互区分开。而通过特殊的方法可以将在极稀溶液中保持彼此孤立的聚合物分子从溶液中分离出来，并且保持在溶液中的相互孤立状态，从而得到单链高聚物。在单链状态下高聚物分子之间是相互分离的，不存在分子间的链缠结作用，因此通过测定单链高聚物的性质，并与本体状态进行比较，就可以得出分子间链缠结对高聚物性质的影响。我们在本工作中采用了一种新的方法－－快速蒸发法来制备高聚物的单链状态样品。具体步骤就是将由沸点远低于 100 ℃ 的溶剂所制成的高分子溶液逐滴滴加到在恒温槽中保持沸腾的水中，溶剂就会在瞬间蒸发出去，而高聚物则基本上保持在溶液中的状态析出。对于几种链段僵硬性不同的高聚物在不同浓度下进行快速蒸发而得到的样品，在相同的升温速率下，用 DSC 方法测定其玻璃化转变温度，发现这些高聚物的玻璃化转变温度随制备溶液浓度的变化都有相同的变化趋势，即在其临界浓度之上时，制备样品的玻璃化转变温度基本上不随浓度的变化而改变，并且同本体状态下的样品的 Tg 温度相近。而在临界浓度以下时，样品的玻璃化温度则随制备溶液浓度的降低而明显下降，在些浓度范围内玻璃化温度与溶液浓度的对数大致成一线性关系。在我们所研究的三种高聚物中，样品的玻璃化温度受制备溶液浓度的影响程度是不一样的，对 PS 的玻璃化转变湿度的影响最大，而对于 PES-C 的影响最小。为了定量地描述制备溶液的浓度变化对样品玻璃化转变温度的影响，我们定义了一个参数 s , s 的值越大，则表明浓度的降低对玻璃化温度下降的影响越明显。对于我们所研究的三种聚合物，S_(PS)>S_(PC)>S_(PES-C)。我们在本工作中还对单链状态对高聚物的结构松弛行为的影响进行了初步的研究，发现同本体样品相比，单链样品的热焓松弛峰所处的温度也比较低，这同其玻璃化转变温度较低相对应。并且同本体样品的焓松弛峰相比，单链样品松弛峰的峰高较低，峰的面积（同松弛焓相对应）也比本体样品的要小，但松弛峰的峰宽却变宽。由 KWW 方程及 TNM 现象学模型通过曲线拟合得出了本体样品与单链样品的结构松弛参数，发现对于所研究的三种高聚物，单链样品的松弛焓相对本体而言都有显著的降低，而特征时间并没有明显的变化，这其中的原因可能是单链状态下的高聚物，发现单链状态对其松弛焓的降低的影响程度也有差异，对于 PS 的影响最为显著，而对 PES－C 的影响最小，这同单链状态对玻璃化转变温度的影响相一致。在研究 PES－C 的分子量的变化对其结构松弛行为的影响时，通过 DSC 方法测出了 PES－C 在不同升温速率下的玻璃化温度，得到了玻璃化转变温度对升温速率的变化曲线，由 1/Tg 对 logQ_h这一直线的斜率，得出了 PES－C 样品的结构松弛的活化能 Δh~*，并且发现对于不同分子量的 PES－C 样品，尽管 Δh~* 和 Tg 的值各不相同，但是 Δh~*/Tg~2 的值却近似为一常数。这样，我们只要知道 PES-C 在某一分子量下的 Tg 以及 Δh~* 值，就可以推算出其它分子量的 PES-C 样品的 Δh~* 值。对于 PES-C 在不同退火温度下的焓变 ΔH(t) 对松弛时间 ta 的曲线进行拟合，并用 KWW 方程（Kraulsch — Watts — Williams）以及结构松弛的 NM（Narayanaswamy — Moynihan）现象学模型进行解析，得出了 PES-C 的结构松弛参数，如极限焓松弛 ΔH_∞，非指数性参数 β，特征结构松弛时间 logτ_c，非线性参数 x 等。并且发现对于不同分子量的样品，其结构弛行为对分子量的大小有着很强的依赖性，在退火间隔温度（Tg — Ta）相同时，特征松弛时间 logτ_c 随着分子量的增加而增加，极限焓松弛 ΔH_∞ 则随着 PES-C 分子量的增加而降低。这些都同 PC 和 PS 有着明显的区别。我们用分子链的运动性随分子量的变化对此作了解释，同普通柔性链高聚物相比，PES－C 的分子链的中间部分所受的限制更为强烈，相对只有链端部分可以相对自由运动。链端的数目随着分子量的降低而增加，因此当分子量降低时，样品在松弛过程中更加容易重排，因此相应的极限焓松弛 ΔH_∞ 也更大。

MOLECULAR-GEOMETRY AND CHAIN ENTANGLEMENT - PARAMETERS FOR THE TUBE MODEL

The tube diameter in the reptation model is the distance between a given chain segment and its nearest segment in adjacent chains. This dimension is thus related to the cross-sectional area of polymer chains and the nearest approach among chains, without effects of thermal fluctuation and steric repulsion. Prior calculated tube diameters are much larger, about 5 times, than the actual chain cross-sectional areas. This is ascribed to the local freedom required for mutual rearrangement among neighboring chain segments. This tube diameter concept seems to us to infer a relationship to the corresponding entanglement spacing. Indeed, we report here that the critical molecular weight, M(c), for the onset of entanglements is found to be M(c) = 28 A/([R2]0/M), where A is the chain cross-sectional area and [R2]0 the mean-square end-to-end distance of a freely jointed chain of molecular weight M. The new, computed relationship between the critical number of backbone atoms for entanglement and the chain cross-sectional area of polymers, N(c) = A0,44, is concordant with the cross-sectional area of polymer chains being the parameter controlling the critical entanglement number of backbone atoms of flexible polymers.

Self-assembled healable materials through a combination of pi-pi stacking and hydrogen bonding

The discovery of polymers with stimuli responsive physical properties is a rapidly expanding area of research. At the forefront of the field are self-healing polymers, which, when fractured can regain the mechanical properties of the material either autonomically, or in response to a stimulus. It has long been known that it is possible to promote healing in conventional thermoplastics by heating the fracture zone above the Tg of the polymer under pressure. This process requires reptation and subsequent re-entanglement of macromolecules across the fracture void, which serves to bridge, and ‘heal’ the crack. The timescale for this mechanism is highly dependent on the molecular weight of the polymer being studied. This process is in contrast to that required to affect healing in supramolecular polymers such as the plasticised, hydrogen bonded elastomer reported by Leibler et al. The disparity in bond energies between the non-covalent and covalent bonds within supramolecular polymers results in fractures propagating through scission of the comparatively weak supramolecular interactions, rather than through breaking the stronger, covalent bonds. Thus, during the healing process the macromolecules surrounding the fracture site only need sufficient energy to re-engage their supramolecular interactions in order to regenerate the strength of the pristine material. Herein we describe the design, synthesis and optimization of a new class of supramolecular polymer blends that harness the reversible nature of pi-pi stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions to produce self-supporting films with facile healable characteristics.

Time-dependent orientation coupling in equilibrium polymer melts

The motion in concentrated polymer systems is described by either the Rouse or the reptation model, which both assume that the relaxation of each polymer chain is independent of the surrounding chains. This, however, is in contradiction with several experiments. In this Letter, we propose a universal description of orientation coupling in polymer melts in terms of the time-dependent coupling parameter κ(t). We use molecular dynamics simulations to show that the coupling parameter increases with time, reaching about 50% at long times, independently of the chain length or blend composition. This leads to predictions of component dynamics in mixtures of different molecular weights from the knowledge of monodisperse dynamics for unentangled melts. Finally, we demonstrate that entanglements do not play a significant role in the observed coupling. © 2010 The American Physical Society

Constraint release in entangled binary blends of linear polymers: a molecular dynamics study

We present extensive molecular dynamics simulations of the dynamics of diluted long probe chains entangled with a matrix of shorter chains. The chain lengths of both components are above the entanglement strand length, and the ratio of their lengths is varied over a wide range to cover the crossover from the chain reptation regime to tube Rouse motion regime of the long probe chains. Reducing the matrix chain length results in a faster decay of the dynamic structure factor of the probe chains, in good agreement with recent neutron spin echo experiments. The diffusion of the long chains, measured by the mean square displacements of the monomers and the centers of mass of the chains, demonstrates a systematic speed-up relative to the pure reptation behavior expected for monodisperse melts of sufficiently long polymers. On the other hand, the diffusion of the matrix chains is only weakly perturbed by the diluted long probe chains. The simulation results are qualitatively consistent with the theoretical predictions based on constraint release Rouse model, but a detailed comparison reveals the existence of a broad distribution of the disentanglement rates, which is partly confirmed by an analysis of the packing and diffusion of the matrix chains in the tube region of the probe chains. A coarse-grained simulation model based on the tube Rouse motion model with incorporation of the probability distribution of the tube segment jump rates is developed and shows results qualitatively consistent with the fine scale molecular dynamics simulations. However, we observe a breakdown in the tube Rouse model when the short chain length is decreased to around N-S = 80, which is roughly 3.5 times the entanglement spacing N-e(P) = 23. The location of this transition may be sensitive to the chain bending potential used in our simulations.

Dynamik von Polymerschmelzen und Quellverhalten ungeordneter Netzwerke

Deutsch:Mit Hilfe eines parallelen Molekulardynamik-Programmswurden einfach Modelle von Homopolymerschmelzen simuliert.Langkettige Schmelzen zeigten eine sehr gute Übereinstimmungmit den Vorhersagendes Reptationsmodells. Die intermediären Reptationsbereichemit den vorhergesagtenExponenten konnten wesentlich klarer als bisher verifiziertwerden. Es stellteVerschiedene, gebräuchliche Analyse-Methoden führten jedochzuunterschiedlichen Aussagen für die Verhakungslänge. Fürkurze Kettenbzw. kurze Unterketten wurden in dichten Schmelzendie Abweichungen vom Rouse-Modell aufgezeigt. DieseAbweichungenkönnen als Korrelationslocheffekt interpretiert werden undsteht in teilweiser Übereinstimmung zu den Vorhersagenrenormierter Rouse-Modelle. Aus den Schmelzen wurden Netzwerke in einem speziellenZufallsvernetzungsprozeßhergestellt, der die Bildung von Defektstrukturenunterbindet. Diesewurden bzgl. ihres Quell- und Deformationsverhaltenuntersucht. Der maximaleQuellgrad eines Netzwerkes war bereits bei verhaltnismäßigkurzen Kettenlängenverhakungslimitiert. Die Struktur der Ketten in einem biszum osmotischenGleichgewicht gequollenen Netzwerk unterhalb derMaschengröße ist die überstreckter,selbstvermeidender Ketten mit einer Fraktaldimension von D =1.4,jenseits der Maschengröße (bzw. Verhakungslänge) nehmen siedie Struktur einesIrrfluges an (D = 2). Gequollene Netzwerke zeigten, wie auch in Experimenten, einestarkeZunahme von Dichtefluktuationen, welche unter Verstreckunganisotropwurde und in der Streufunktion zu sogenanntenButterfly-Mustern führt.Diese Fluktuationen sind statischer Natur als Folge desEinfrierenseines ungeordneten Zustandes während der Vernetzung.

Influence of chain stiffness on structure and dynamics of polymers in the melt

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschaeftigt sich mit der Untersuchung vonPolymeren mit intrinsischer Steifigkeit. Es werden vor allem lokale statische unddynamische Eigenschaften anhand zweier verschiedener Simulationsmodellebetrachtet: Ein generisches Polymermodell, bei dem nur dieSteifigkeit als ein das spezifische Polymer charakterisierenden Parametereingeht und ein atomistisches Modell fuer trans-Polyisopren. Mit Hilfe des ersten Modells koennen Statik und Dynamik wurmartiger Kettenbeobachtet werden. Das Blob-Konzept ist eine angemessene statischeBeschreibung. Lokale Orientierungen haengen schwach von derSteifigkeit ab. Das Reptationsmodell kann die beobachtete Dynamik fuer lange Kettennicht mehr angemessen beschreiben. Lange Ketten bewegen sich, als obsie in Roehren gezwaengt waeren; jedoch ist die Bewegung starkabhaengig von der Steifigkeit. Fuer Ketten dieser Art konntequalitativ das Verhalten reproduziert werden, das in NMR-Experimentenbeobachtet wird. Eine Verhakungslaenge laesst sich fuer solche Kettenkaum mehr definieren. Dynamische Strukturfunktionen und insbesonderedie direkte Visualisierung der Ketten verdeutlichen die effektiv aufeine Roehre beschraenkte Bewegung. Das atomistische Polyisoprenmodell wurde mit verschiedenen Experimenten,verglichen. In den Simulationen bei konnten qualitativ undsemiquantitativ experimentelle Ergebnisse reproduziert werden. Zuletzt wurden die Laengen- und Zeitskalen der beiden Modelleerfolgreich aufeinander abgebildet.

Festkörper-NMR an polymeren Kompositmaterialien

In dieser Arbeit wurden polymere Kompositmaterialien mit Hilfe von Festkörper-NMR-Techniken untersucht, um den Einfluß von Polymer-Festkörper-Kontakten auf molekulare Materialeigenschaften zu betrachten. Dabei wurden sowohl Analysen am Polymer als auch am Füllmaterial durchgeführt.rnrnIm ersten Teil der Arbeit wurde die Dynamik von Poly(ethylmethacrylat) (PEMA) in sphärischen Bürstenpartikeln gemessen. Diese Bürsten bestanden aus einem Poly(silsesquioxan)-Kern und verpfropften PEMA-Ketten, die über ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization) an verschiedenen Kettensequenzen mit 13C an der Carboxylgruppe markiert wurden. Statische 13C-NMR-Messungen konnten zeigen, dass die Dynamik dieser Sequenzen unabhängig vom Abstand zur Oberfläche verlangsamt ist, was auf eine eingeschränkte Reptation zurückgeführt wurde.rnrnDer zweite Teil der Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit den molekularen Unterschieden von Silika-Naturkautschuk-Kompositen, die über mechanisches Mischen bzw. über eine Sol-Gel-Reaktion hergestellt wurden. Durch kinetische 1H-NMR-Messungen wurde der Umsatz der Sol-Gel-Reaktion bestimmt. Mittels heteronuklearen 29Si{1H}-NMR-Korrelationsexperimenten wurde ein direkter räumlicher Kontakt zwischen dem Inneren der Partikel und dem Polymer nachgewiesen. Dies belegt experimentell, dass im Kompositmaterial die Polymerketten in den durch Sol-Gel-Reaktion hergestellten Silikapartikeln eingeschlossen sind.

Redistribution of particles across the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Context. We present an investigation of the surface properties of areas on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Aims. We aim to show that transport of material from one part of the cometary nucleus to another is a significant mechanism that influences the appearance of the nucleus and the surface thermal properties. Methods. We used data from the OSIRIS imaging system onboard the Rosetta spacecraft to identify surface features on the nucleus that can be produced by various transport mechanisms. We used simple calculations based on previous works to establish the plausibility of dust transport from one part of the nucleus to another. Results. We show by observation and modeling that "airfall" as a consequence of non-escaping large particles emitted from the neck region of the nucleus is a plausible explanation for the smooth thin deposits in the northern hemisphere of the nucleus. The consequences are also discussed. We also present observations of aeolian ripples and ventifacts. We show by numerical modeling that a type of saltation is plausible even under the rarified gas densities seen at the surface of the nucleus. However, interparticle cohesive forces present difficulties for this model, and an alternative mechanism for the initiation of reptation and creep may result from the airfall mechanism. The requirements on gas density and other parameters of this alternative make it a more attractive explanation for the observations. The uncertainties and implications are discussed.

Enhanced transcription factor access to arrays of histone H3/H4 tetramer⋅DNA complexes in vitro: Implications for replication and transcription

Defined model systems consisting of physiologically spaced arrays of H3/H4 tetramer⋅5S rDNA complexes have been assembled in vitro from pure components. Analytical hydrodynamic and electrophoretic studies have revealed that the structural features of H3/H4 tetramer arrays closely resemble those of naked DNA. The reptation in agarose gels of H3/H4 tetramer arrays is essentially indistinguishable from naked DNA, the gel-free mobility of H3/H4 tetramer arrays relative to naked DNA is reduced by only 6% compared with 20% for nucleosomal arrays, and H3/H4 tetramer arrays are incapable of folding under ionic conditions where nucleosomal arrays are extensively folded. We further show that the cognate binding sites for transcription factor TFIIIA are significantly more accessible when the rDNA is complexed with H3/H4 tetramers than with histone octamers. These results suggest that the processes of DNA replication and transcription have evolved to exploit the unique structural properties of H3/H4 tetramer arrays.

Plastisol gelation and fusion rheological aspects

This study deals with the rheological aspects of poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) plastisol gelation and fusion processes in foamable formulations. Here, such processes are simulated by temperature-programmed experiment (5 K min−1) in which complex viscosity components are continuously recorded. Nineteen samples based on a PVC-VAC (vinyl acetate 95/5) copolymer with 100 phr plasticizer have been studied, differing only by the plasticizer structure. The sample shear modulus increases continuously with temperature until a maximum, long time after the end of the dissolution process as characterized by DSC. The temperature at the maximum varies between 345 and 428 K with a clear tendency to increase almost linearly with the plasticizer molar mass, and to vary with the flexibility and the degree of branching of the plasticizer molecule. The shear modulus increase is interpreted in terms of progressive “welding” of swelled particles by polymer chain reptation. The plasticizer nature would mainly affect the friction parameter of chain diffusion.