Putz M, Kremer K, Everaers R. Self-similar chain conformations in polymer gels.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2000;
84:298-301. [PMID:
11015895 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.84.298]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/1999] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the swelling of randomly end-cross-linked polymer networks in good solvent conditions. We find that the equilibrium degree of swelling saturates at Q(eq) approximately N(3/5)(e) for mean strand lengths &Nmacr;(s) exceeding the melt entanglement length N(e). The internal structure of the network strands in the swollen state is characterized by a new exponent nu = 0.72+/-0.02. Our findings can be rationalized by a Flory argument for a self-similar structure of mutually interpenetrating network strands, agree partially with the classical Flory-Rehner theory, and are in contradiction to de Gennes' c(*)-theorem.
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