How does star polymer architecture affect dynamical heterogeneity?

ORAL

Abstract

The formation of an amorphous solid by polymers is one of the most important features for polymer applications. While glass formation of linear chain polymers has been widely explored, comparatively little is known about glass formation of star polymers. We study the dynamical heterogeneity and cooperative nature of star polymer melts via molecular dynamics simulations. In particular, we quantify how the number of arms and the length of those arms affect the collective string-like motion of monomers. We find that, while the star geometry can significantly affect the size and time scale of collective motions, the relationship between the size scale of the collective motions and the overall relaxation time follows the same Adam-Gibbs like relationship previously found to describe simple linear polymers.

*This work was supported in part by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Award 70NANB15H282.

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Presenters

  • Jinpeng Fan

    • Department of Physics, Wesleyan University

Authors

  • Jinpeng Fan

    • Department of Physics, Wesleyan University

  • Hamed Emamy

    • Columbia University
    • Department of Physics, Wesleyan University

  • Alexandros Chremos

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Jack Douglas

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • Materials Science and Engineering Division, NIST
    • Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Francis Starr

    • Wesleyan University
    • Department of Physics, Wesleyan University
    • Department of of Physics, Wesleyan University
    • Physics Department, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT