2004-04-27
10:15 at ML J 21

Z(t) ?

Martin Kröger

Polymer Physics, Dept. Materials Science, ETH Zurich

We review se of the approaches to extract and handle properties of the primitive path (of a linear polymer), with particular attention to the number of entanglements Z. The question arised, if Z should be considered as an additional dynamic variable within a modified reptation theory for polymer melts, or if it can be directly related to stretch and alignment variables. In equilibrium, Z is known to be directly related to number density and shape of linear polymers, and a variation of Z with deformation (and time) is one possible solution to describe experimental results within a modified, well established approach. The aim of this talk is to motivate a discussion about promising next steps illuminating current ideas, or using current ideas in a different framework.