We calculate the correction-to-scaling exponent omegaT that characterizes the approach to the scaling limit in multicomponent polymer solutions. A direct Monte Carlo determination of omegaT in a system of interacting self-avoiding walks gives omegaT=0.415+/-0.020. A field-theory analysis based on five- and six-loop perturbative series leads to omegaT=0.41+/-0.04. We also verify the renormalizat...

We develop an analytical and quantitative theory of the tube model concept for entangled networks of semiflexible polymers. The absolute value of the tube diameter L perpendicular is derived as a function of the polymers' persistence length lp and mesh size xi of the network. To leading order, we find L perpendicular = 0.31xi 6/5 lp (-1/5) , which is consistent with known asymptotic scaling law...

It is widely believed that the swimming speed, v, of many flagellated bacteria is a nonmonotonic function of the concentration, c, of high-molecular-weight linear polymers in aqueous solution, showing peaked v(c) curves. Pores in the polymer solution were suggested as the explanation. Quantifying this picture led to a theory that predicted peaked v(c) curves. Using high-throughput methods for c...

Shear-induced structural changes in complex fluids of anisotropic species are very general phenomena, occurring in polymer solutions, liquid crystalline materials and block copolymer melts. The purpose of our work is to investigate the influence of shear on the structure of a highly viscoelastic, aqueous clay-polymer solution. Many structural models have been proposed for such solutions [1-3], ...

Thermal diffusion forced Rayleigh scattering results on thermal diffusion of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in ethanol/water mixtures are presented. In water-rich solvent mixtures, PEO is found to migrate towards regions of lower temperature. This is typical for polymer solutions and corresponds to a positive Soret coefficient of PEO. In solvent mixtures with low water content, however, the polymer...

The existence of global weak solutions is proved for one-dimensional lubrication models that describe the dewetting process of nanoscopic thin polymer films on hydrophobyzed substrates and take account of large slippage at the polymer-substrate interface. The convergence of these solutions as either the Reynolds number or the capillarity goes to zero, as well as their limiting behaviour as the ...

Herein we describe studies of molecular interactions in thermoresponsive polymers as they go through phase transitions in aqueous solutions. By using our recently reported linear temperature gradient setup for studying the effects of temperature on chemical processes, we demonstrate the ability to probe lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior with excellent precision. This method al...