Compact structure and non-Gaussian dynamics of ring polymer melts

Soft Matter. 2014 May 28;10(20):3649-55. doi: 10.1039/c3sm52717d. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Abstract

We present a neutron scattering analysis of the structure and dynamics of PEO polymer rings with a molecular weight 2.5 times higher than the entanglement mass. The melt structure was found to be more compact than a Gaussian model would suggest. With increasing time the center of mass (c.o.m.) diffusion undergoes a transition from sub-diffusive to diffusive behavior. The transition time agrees well with the decorrelation time predicted by a mode coupling approach. As a novel feature well pronounced non-Gaussian behavior of the c.o.m. diffusion was found that shows surprising analogies to the cage effect known from glassy systems. Finally, the longest wavelength Rouse modes are suppressed possibly as a consequence of an onset of lattice animal features as hypothesized in theoretical approaches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Neutron Diffraction
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Small Angle

Substances

  • Polyethylene Glycols