Healing of polymer interfaces: Interfacial dynamics, entanglements, and strength

Structure, entanglements and dynamics of polymer nanocomposites containing spherical nanoparticles

Transient interfacial tension and dilatational rheology of diffuse polymer-polymer interfaces.

We demonstrate the influence of molecular weight and molecular weight asymmetry across an interface on the transient behavior of the interfacial tension. The interfacial tension was measured as a function of time for a range of polymer combinations with a broad range of interfacial properties using a pendant/sessile drop apparatus. The results show that neglecting mutual solubility, assumed to ...

Entanglements in polymer nanocomposites containing spherical nanoparticles.

We investigate the polymer packing around nanoparticles and polymer/nanoparticle topological constraints (entanglements) in nanocomposites containing spherical nanoparticles in comparison to pure polymer melts using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The polymer-nanoparticle attraction leads to good dispersion of nanoparticles. We observe an increase in the number of topological constraints (...

Velocity-strengthening friction significantly affects interfacial dynamics, strength and dissipation

Frictional interfaces abound in natural and man-made systems, yet their dynamics are not well-understood. Recent extensive experimental data have revealed that velocity-strengthening friction, where the steady-state frictional resistance increases with sliding velocity over some range, is a generic feature of such interfaces. This physical behavior has very recently been linked to slow stick-sl...

DNA as a Model for Probing Polymer Entanglements: Circular Polymers and Non-Classical Dynamics

Double-stranded DNA offers a robust platform for investigating fundamental questions regarding the dynamics of entangled polymer solutions. The exceptional monodispersity and multiple naturally occurring topologies of DNA, as well as a wide range of tunable lengths and concentrations that encompass the entanglement regime, enable direct testing of molecular-level entanglement theories and corre...