 By combining molecular dynamics simulations and topological analyses with scaling arguments, we obtain analytic expressions that quantitatively predict the entanglement length Ne, the plateau modulus G, and the tube diameter a in melts that span the entire range of chain stiffnesses for which systems remain isotropic. Our expressions resolve conflicts between previous scaling predictions for the loosely entangled [Lin-Noolandi: G lK3/kBT ∼ (lK/p)3], semiflexible [Edwards-de Gennes: G lK3/kBT ∼ (lK/p)2], and tightly entangled [Morse: G lK3/kBT ∼ (lK/p)1+ε] regimes, where lK and p are, respectively, the Kuhn and packing lengths. We also find that maximal entanglement (minimal Ne) coincides with the onset of local nematic order.
for LaTeX users @article{RSHoy2020-124,
author = {R. S. Hoy and M. Kr\"oger},
title = {Unified analytic expressions for the entanglement length, tube diameter, and plateau modulus of polymer melts},
journal = {Phys. Rev. Lett.},
volume = {124},
pages = {147801},
year = {2020}
}
\bibitem{RSHoy2020-124} R.S. Hoy, M. Kr\"oger,
Unified analytic expressions for the entanglement length, tube diameter, and plateau modulus of polymer melts,
Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 124} (2020) 147801.RSHoy2020-124
R.S. Hoy, M. Kr\"oger
Unified analytic expressions for the entanglement length, tube diameter, and plateau modulus of polymer melts
Phys. Rev. Lett.,124,2020,147801 |
mk@mat.ethz.ch
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