Work

Terminal Flow of Cluster-Forming Supramolecular Polymer Networks: Single-Chain Relaxation or Micelle Reorganization?

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: We correlate the terminal relaxation of supramolecular polymer networks, based on unentangled telechelic poly(isobutylene) linear chains forming micellar end-group clusters, with the microscopic chain dynamics as probed by proton NMR. For a series of samples with increasing molecular weight, we find a quantitative agreement between the terminal relaxation times and their activation energies provided by rheology and NMR. This finding corroborates the validity of the transient-network model and the special case of the sticky Rouse model, and dismisses more dedicated approaches treating the terminal relaxation in terms of micellar rearrangements. Also, we confirm previous results showing reduction of the activation energy of supramolecular dissociation with increasing molecular weight and explain this trend with an increasing elastic penalty, as corroborated by small angle x-ray scattering data.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.127801

Authors: Anton Mordvinkin, Diana Döhler, Wolfgang H. Binder, Ralph H. Colby, Kay Saalwächter

Institutions: Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Pennsylvania State University

Language: English

Topic: Rheology and Fluid Dynamics Studies

Subfield: Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft