1
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Nucleation and crystallization mechanism of heavy hydrocarbons in natural gas under flow field. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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2
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Nie C, Peng F, Cao R, Cui K, Sheng J, Chen W, Li L. Recent progress in flow‐induced polymer crystallization. JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pol.20220330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cui Nie
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
| | - Fan Peng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
| | - Renkuan Cao
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
| | - Kunpeng Cui
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
| | - Junfang Sheng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
| | - Liangbin Li
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry University of Science and Technology of China Hefei China
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3
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Borzdun N, Glova A, Larin S, Lyulin S. Influence of Asphaltene Modification on Structure of P3HT/Asphaltene Blends: Molecular Dynamics Simulations. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:2867. [PMID: 36014732 PMCID: PMC9413297 DOI: 10.3390/nano12162867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Further development and commercialization of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells require the search for novel low-cost materials. The present study addresses the relations between the asphaltenes' chemical structure and the morphology of the poly(3-hexylthiohene) (P3HT)/asphaltene blends as potential materials for the design of BHJ solar cells. By means of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, the formation of heterophase morphology is observed for the P3HT-based blends with carboxyl-containing asphaltenes, as well as the aggregation of the asphaltenes into highly ordered stacks. Although the π-π interactions between the polyaromatic cores of the asphaltenes in solutions are sufficient for the molecules to aggregate into ordered stacks, in a blend with a conjugated polymer, additional stabilizing factors are required, such as hydrogen bonding between carboxyl groups. It is found that the asphaltenes' aliphatic side groups may improve significantly the miscibility between the polymer and the asphaltenes, thereby preventing the formation of heterophase morphology. The results also demonstrate that the carboxyl-containing asphaltenes/P3HT ratio should be at least 1:1, as a decrease in concentration of the asphaltenes leads to the folding of the polymer chains, lower ordering in the polymer phase and the destruction of the interpenetrating 3D structure formed by P3HT and the asphaltene phases. Overall, the results of the present study for the first time reveal the aggregation behavior of the asphaltenes of varying chemical structures in P3HT, as well the influence of their presence and concentration on the polymer phase structure and blend morphology, paving the way for future development of BHJ solar cells based on the conjugated polymer/asphaltene blends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Borzdun
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoi pr. 31 (V.O.), 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Artyom Glova
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoi pr. 31 (V.O.), 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey Larin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoi pr. 31 (V.O.), 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Faculty of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, Ulyanovskaya str. 1–3, Peterhof, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey Lyulin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoi pr. 31 (V.O.), 199004 St. Petersburg, Russia
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4
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Nazarychev VM, Vaganov GV, Larin SV, Didenko AL, Elokhovskiy VY, Svetlichnyi VM, Yudin VE, Lyulin SV. Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Crystallizable Polyimide-Based Nanocomposites Filled with Carbon Nanotubes: Computer Simulations and Experiments. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14153154. [PMID: 35956666 PMCID: PMC9370852 DOI: 10.3390/polym14153154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, a strong structural ordering of thermoplastic semi-crystalline polyimides near single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was found that can enhance their mechanical properties. In this study, a comparative analysis of the results of microsecond-scale all-atom computer simulations and experimental measurements of thermoplastic semi-crystalline polyimide R-BAPB synthesized on the basis of dianhydride R (1,3-bis-(3′,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene) and diamine BAPB (4,4′-bis-(4″-aminophenoxy) biphenyl) near the SWCNTs on the rheological properties of nanocomposites was performed. We observe the viscosity increase in the SWCNT-filled R-BAPB in the melt state both in computer simulations and experiments. For the first time, it is proven by computer simulation that this viscosity change is related to the structural ordering of the R-BAPB in the vicinity of SWCNT but not to the formation of interchain linkage. Additionally, strong anisotropy of the rheological properties of the R-BAPB near the SWCNT surface was detected due to the polyimide chain orientation. The increase in the viscosity of the polymer in the viscous-flow state and an increase in the values of the mechanical characteristics (Young’s modulus and yield peak) of the SWCNT-R-BAPB nanocomposites in the glassy state are stronger in the directions along the ordering of polymer chains close to the carbon nanofiller surface. Thus, the new experimental data obtained on the R-BAPB-based nanocomposites filled with SWCNT, being extensively compared with simulation results, confirm the idea of the influence of macromolecular ordering near the carbon nanotube on the mechanical characteristics of the composite material.
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5
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Yamamoto T. Chiral selecting crystallization of helical polymers: A molecular dynamics simulation for the POM-like bare helix. J Chem Phys 2022; 157:014901. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0097112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymer crystallization has long been a fascinating problem and is still attracting many researchers. Most of the previous simulations are concentrated on clarifying the universal aspects of polymer crystallization using model linear polymers such as polyethylene. We are recently focusing on a nearly untouched but very interesting problem of chiral selecting crystallization in helical polymers. We previously proposed a stepwise approach using two kinds of helical polymers, simple "bare" helical polymers made of backbone atoms only such as polyoxymethylene (POM) and "general" helical polymers containing complicated side groups such as isotactic polypropylene (iPP). We have already reported on the crystallization in oligomeric POM-like helix but have observed only weak chiral selectivity during crystallization. In the present paper, we investigate the crystallization of sufficiently long POM-like polymer both from the isotropic melt and from the highly stretched melt. We find in both cases that the polymer shows a clear chiral selecting crystallization. Especially the observation of a single crystal growing from the isotropic melt is very illuminating. It shows that the crystal thickness and the crystal chirality is closely correlated; thicker crystals show definite chirality while thinner ones are mostly mixtures of the R- and the L- handed stems. The single crystal is found to have a marked lenticular shape, where the thinner growth front, since being made of the mixture, shows no chiral selectivity. Final chiral crystal is found to be completed through helix reversal processes within thicker regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Physics and Informatics, Yamaguchi University, Japan
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6
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Sheng J, Chen W, Cui K, Li L. Polymer crystallization under external flow. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2022; 85:036601. [PMID: 35060493 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/ac4d92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The general aspects of polymer crystallization under external flow, i.e., flow-induced crystallization (FIC) from fundamental theoretical background to multi-scale characterization and modeling results are presented. FIC is crucial for modern polymer processing, such as blowing, casting, and injection modeling, as two-third of daily-used polymers is crystalline, and nearly all of them need to be processed before final applications. For academics, the FIC is intrinsically far from equilibrium, where the polymer crystallization behavior is different from that in quiescent conditions. The continuous investigation of crystallization contributes to a better understanding on the general non-equilibrium ordering in condensed physics. In the current review, the general theories related to polymer nucleation under flow (FIN) were summarized first as a preliminary knowledge. Various theories and models, i.e., coil-stretch transition and entropy reduction model, are briefly presented together with the modified versions. Subsequently, the multi-step ordering process of FIC is discussed in detail, including chain extension, conformational ordering, density fluctuation, and final perfection of the polymer crystalline. These achievements for a thorough understanding of the fundamental basis of FIC benefit from the development of various hyphenated rheometer, i.e., rheo-optical spectroscopy, rheo-IR, and rheo-x-ray scattering. The selected experimental results are introduced to present efforts on elucidating the multi-step and hierarchical structure transition during FIC. Then, the multi-scale modeling methods are summarized, including micro/meso scale simulation and macroscopic continuum modeling. At last, we briefly describe our personal opinions related to the future directions of this field, aiming to ultimately establish the unified theory of FIC and promote building of the more applicable models in the polymer processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfang Sheng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Kunpeng Cui
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangbin Li
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China
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7
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Kawak P, Banks DS, Tree DR. Semiflexible oligomers crystallize via a cooperative phase transition. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:214902. [PMID: 34879681 DOI: 10.1063/5.0067788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Semicrystalline polymers are ubiquitous, yet despite their fundamental and industrial importance, the theory of homogeneous nucleation from a melt remains a subject of debate. A key component of the controversy is that polymer crystallization is a non-equilibrium process, making it difficult to distinguish between effects that are purely kinetic and those that arise from the underlying thermodynamics. Due to computational cost constraints, simulations of polymer crystallization typically employ non-equilibrium molecular dynamics techniques with large degrees of undercooling that further exacerbate the coupling between thermodynamics and kinetics. In a departure from this approach, in this study, we isolate the near-equilibrium nucleation behavior of a simple model of a melt of short, semiflexible oligomers. We employ several Monte Carlo methods and compute a phase diagram in the temperature-density plane along with two-dimensional free energy landscapes (FELs) that characterize the nucleation behavior. The phase diagram shows the existence of ordered nematic and crystalline phases in addition to the disordered melt phase. The minimum free energy path in the FEL for the melt-crystal transition shows a cooperative transition, where nematic order and monomer positional order move in tandem as the system crystallizes. This near-equilibrium phase transition mechanism broadly agrees with recent evidence that polymer stiffness plays an important role in crystallization but differs in the specifics of the mechanism from several recent theories. We conclude that the computation of multidimensional FELs for models that are larger and more fine-grained will be important for evaluating and refining theories of homogeneous nucleation for polymer crystallization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Kawak
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Dakota S Banks
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
| | - Douglas R Tree
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA
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8
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Nie C, Peng F, Xu T, Ding Y, Sheng J, Chen W, Li L. Biaxial Stretch-Induced Crystallization of Polymers: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cui Nie
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Fan Peng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Tingyu Xu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yiwei Ding
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Junfang Sheng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Liangbin Li
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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9
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Yagasaki T, Matubayasi N. Crystallization of Polyethylene Brushes and Its Effect on Interactions with Water. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Yagasaki
- Division of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-8531, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Matubayasi
- Division of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka 560-8531, Japan
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10
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Zhao J, Feng S, Zhang W, Chen W, Sheng J, Yu W, Li L. Strain Rate Dependence of Stretch-Induced Crystallization and Crystal Transition of Poly(dimethylsiloxane). Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c01407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jingyun Zhao
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shengyao Feng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Junfang Sheng
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wancheng Yu
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Liangbin Li
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Film, CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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11
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Anwar M, Graham RS. Direct observation of long chain enrichment in flow-induced nuclei from molecular dynamics simulations of bimodal blends. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:2872-2882. [PMID: 33586745 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01361g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Modelling of flow-induced nucleation in polymers suggest that long chains are enriched in nuclei, relative to their melt concentration. This enrichment has important consequences for the nucleation rate and mechanism, but cannot be directly observed with current experimental techniques. Instead, we ran united atom molecular dynamics simulations of bimodal polyethylene blends, comprising linear chains at a 50 : 50 mix of long (1000 carbon) and short (500-125 carbon) chains, under shear flow. We developed a method to extract the nucleus composition during a transient start-up flow. Our simulations show significant and systematic enrichment of long-chains for all nucleus sizes up to and beyond the critical nucleus. This enrichment is quantitatively predicted by the recent polySTRAND model [Read et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2020, 124, 147802]. The same model parameters also correctly capture the nucleus induction time in our simulations. All parameters of the model were fitted to a small subset of our data in which long chain enhancement was absent. We conclude that long-chain enrichment is central to the mechanism of flow-induced nucleation and that this enrichment must be captured to correctly predict the nucleation rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Anwar
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG9 4DP, UK.
| | - Richard S Graham
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG9 4DP, UK.
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12
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Hall KW, Percec S, Shinoda W, Klein ML. Chain-End Modification: A Starting Point for Controlling Polymer Crystal Nucleation. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Wm. Hall
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Simona Percec
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Wataru Shinoda
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Michael L. Klein
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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13
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Zhang W, Zou L. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Crystal Nucleation near Interfaces in Incompatible Polymer Blends. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:347. [PMID: 33499036 PMCID: PMC7865509 DOI: 10.3390/polym13030347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We apply molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate crystal nucleation in incompatible polymer blends under deep supercooling conditions. Simulations of isothermal nucleation are performed for phase-separated blends with different degrees of incompatibility. In weakly segregated blends, slow and incompatible chains in crystallizable polymer domains can significantly hinder the crystal nucleation and growth. When a crystallizable polymer is blended with a more mobile species in interfacial regions, enhanced molecular mobility leads to the fast growth of crystalline order. However, the incubation time remains the same as that in pure samples. By inducing anisotropic alignment near the interfaces of strongly segregated blends, phase separation also promotes crystalline order to grow near interfaces between different polymer domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
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14
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Goswami A, Singh JK. Homogeneous nucleation of sheared liquids: advances and insights from simulations and theory. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:15402-15419. [PMID: 34279013 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp02617h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
One of the most ubiquitous and technologically important phenomena in nature is the nucleation of homogeneous flowing systems. The microscopic effects of shear on a nucleating system are still imperfectly understood, although in recent years a consistent picture has emerged. The opposing effects of shear can be split into two major contributions for simple atomic and molecular liquids: increase of the energetic cost of nucleation, and enhancement of the kinetics. In this perspective, we describe the latest computational and theoretical techniques which have been developed over the past two decades. We collate and unify the overarching influences of shear, temperature, and supersaturation on the process of homogeneous nucleation. Experimental techniques and capabilities are discussed, against the backdrop of results from simulations and theory. Although we primarily focus on simple systems, we also touch upon the sheared nucleation of more complex systems, including glasses and polymer melts. We speculate on the promising directions and possible advances that could come to fruition in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrita Goswami
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India.
| | - Jayant K Singh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India.
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15
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Nafar Sefiddashti MH, Edwards BJ, Khomami B. A Thermodynamically Inspired Method for Quantifying Phase Transitions in Polymeric Liquids with Application to Flow-Induced Crystallization of a Polyethylene Melt. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c02144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hadi Nafar Sefiddashti
- Materials Research and Innovation Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Brian J. Edwards
- Materials Research and Innovation Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Bamin Khomami
- Materials Research and Innovation Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlin Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Ronald G. Larson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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17
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Chen W, Ren Y. Molecular dynamics simulations of polymerisation and crystallisation at constant chemical potential. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2020.1776276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Complex Systems, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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18
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Hall KW, Percec S, Shinoda W, Klein ML. Property Decoupling across the Embryonic Nucleus-Melt Interface during Polymer Crystal Nucleation. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:4793-4804. [PMID: 32413263 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c01972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Spatial distributions are presented that quantitatively capture how polymer properties (e.g., segment alignment, density, and potential energy) vary with distance from nascent polymer crystals (nuclei) in prototypical polyethylene melts. It is revealed that the spatial extent of nuclei and their interfaces is metric-dependent as is the extent to which nucleus interiors are solid-like. As distance from a nucleus increases, some properties, such as density, decay to melt-like behavior more rapidly than polymer segment alignment, indicating that a polymer nucleus resides in a nematic-like droplet. This nematic-like droplet region coincides with enhanced formation of ordered polymer segments that are not part of the nucleus. It is more favorable to find nonconstituent ordered polymer segments near a nucleus than in the surrounding metastable melt, pointing to the possibility of one nucleus inducing the formation of other nuclei. In this vein, there is also a second region of enhanced ordering that lies along the nematic director of a nucleus, but beyond its nematic droplet and fold regions. These results indicate that crystal stacking, a key characteristic of lamellae in semicrystalline polymeric materials, begins to emerge during the earliest stages of polymer crystallization (i.e., crystal nucleation). More generally, the findings of this study provide a conceptual bridge between polymer crystal nucleation under nonflow and flow conditions and are used to rationalize previous results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Wm Hall
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States.,Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Simona Percec
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Wataru Shinoda
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
| | - Michael L Klein
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States.,Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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19
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Nicholson DA, Rutledge GC. Flow-induced inhomogeneity and enhanced nucleation in a long alkane melt. POLYMER 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.122605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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20
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Liu Z, Zhou Z, Ming Y, Zhang S, Hao T, Nie Y. Molecular dynamics simulations of nucleation details in stretched polyethylene. POLYMER 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.122442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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21
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Read DJ, McIlroy C, Das C, Harlen OG, Graham RS. PolySTRAND Model of Flow-Induced Nucleation in Polymers. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:147802. [PMID: 32338987 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.147802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We develop a thermodynamic continuum-level model, polySTRAND, for flow-induced nucleation in polymers suitable for use in computational process modeling. The model's molecular origins ensure that it accounts properly for flow and nucleation dynamics of polydisperse systems and can be extended to include effects of exhaustion of highly deformed chains and nucleus roughness. It captures variations with the key processing parameters, flow rate, temperature, and molecular weight distribution. Under strong flow, long chains are over-represented within the nucleus, leading to superexponential nucleation rate growth with shear rate as seen in experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Read
- School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Claire McIlroy
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, United Kingdom
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Chinmay Das
- School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver G Harlen
- School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Richard S Graham
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
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Chandran S, Baschnagel J, Cangialosi D, Fukao K, Glynos E, Janssen LMC, Müller M, Muthukumar M, Steiner U, Xu J, Napolitano S, Reiter G. Processing Pathways Decide Polymer Properties at the Molecular Level. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jörg Baschnagel
- Institut Charles Sadron, Université de Strasbourg & CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67034 Cedex, Strasbourg, France
| | - Daniele Cangialosi
- Centro de Física de Materiales CFM (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Materials Physics Center MPC, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 San Sebastin, Spain
| | - Koji Fukao
- Department of Physics, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Emmanouil Glynos
- Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, P.O.
Box 1385, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Liesbeth M. C. Janssen
- Theory of Polymers and Soft Matter, Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Marcus Müller
- Institute for Theoretical Physics, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Murugappan Muthukumar
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Ullrich Steiner
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jun Xu
- Advanced Materials Laboratory of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Simone Napolitano
- Laboratory of Polymer and Soft Matter Dynamics, Experimental Soft Matter and Thermal Physics, Faculté des Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP223, Boulevard du Triomphe, Bruxelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Günter Reiter
- Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79104, Germany
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23
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Zhang W, Larson RG. A metastable nematic precursor accelerates polyethylene oligomer crystallization as determined by atomistic simulations and self-consistent field theory. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:244903. [PMID: 31255080 DOI: 10.1063/1.5110681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Using PYS, TraPPE, OPLS-L, and Flexible-Williams (FW) force field models, atomistic simulations at temperatures ranging from 450 K to 600 K are performed to predict the melt density ρ, the persistence length Np, the nematic coupling constant α, and crystallization dynamics for pentacontane (C50). The coupling constant α arises from packing entropy of rodlike Kuhn segments and increases with increasing ρ and Np. Together with a self-consistent field theory, Np and α are then used to predict the isotropic-to-nematic (IN) transition temperature for polyethylene (PE) oligomers as a function of chain length. The nematic phase is found to be metastable since the IN transition temperature lies below the crystal melting temperatures for C50 in simulations using different force fields. Finally, isothermal simulations of crystallization for PE C50 oligomers and C1000 polymers show that crystal nucleation may be much accelerated by quenching below the IN transition temperature, where chains in the isotropic state first rapidly form nematic ordered domains, within which crystalline order then grows. We also find that the PYS, TraPPE, and FW models overpredict the melting temperature for C50 by around 50 K, while the most flexible OPLS-L model gives a melting temperature within around 10 K of the experimental value. Although giving a more accurate melting temperature, the slow crystallization kinetics of the OPLS-L model may limit its application in direct simulations of PE crystallization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlin Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Ronald G Larson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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24
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Zhai Z, Morthomas J, Fusco C, Perez M, Lame O. Crystallization and Molecular Topology of Linear Semicrystalline Polymers: Simulation of Uni- and Bimodal Molecular Weight Distribution Systems. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zengqiang Zhai
- Univ de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS, UMR CNRS 5510, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Julien Morthomas
- Univ de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS, UMR CNRS 5510, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Claudio Fusco
- Univ de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS, UMR CNRS 5510, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Michel Perez
- Univ de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS, UMR CNRS 5510, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Olivier Lame
- Univ de Lyon, INSA Lyon, MATEIS, UMR CNRS 5510, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
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25
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Anwar M, Graham RS. Molecular dynamics simulations of crystal nucleation in entangled polymer melts under start-up shear conditions. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:084905. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5082244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Anwar
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
| | - Richard S. Graham
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom
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Yamamoto T. Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Stretch-Induced Crystallization in Polyethylene: Emergence of Fiber Structure and Molecular Network. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b02569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8512, Japan
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Larin SV, Nazarychev VM, Dobrovskiy AY, Lyulin AV, Lyulin SV. Structural Ordering in SWCNT-Polyimide Nanocomposites and Its Influence on Their Mechanical Properties. Polymers (Basel) 2018; 10:E1245. [PMID: 30961170 PMCID: PMC6401868 DOI: 10.3390/polym10111245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Using fully-atomistic models, tens-microseconds-long molecular-dynamic modelling was carried out for the first time to simulate the kinetics of polyimides ordering induced by the presence of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanofillers. Three polyimides (PI) were considered with different dianhydride fragments, namely 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), 2,3',3,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (aBPDA), and 3,3',4,4'-oxidiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA) and same diamine 1,4-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenoxy]benzene (diamine P3). Both crystallizable PI BPDA-P3 and two amorphous polyimides ODPA-P3 and aBPDA-P3 reinforced by SWCNTs were studied. The structural properties of the nanocomposites at temperature close to the bulk polymer melting point were studied. The mechanical properties were determined for the nanocomposites cooled down to the glassy state. It was found that the SWCNT nanofiller initiates' structural ordering not only in the crystallizable BPDA-P3 but also in the amorphous ODPA-P3 samples were in agreement with previously obtained experimental results. Two stages of the structural ordering were detected in the presence of SWCNTs, namely the orientation of the planar moieties followed by the elongation of whole polymer chains. The first type of local ordering was observed on the microsecond time scale and did not lead to the change of the mechanical properties of a polymer binder in considered nanocomposites. At the end of the second stage, both BPDA-P3 and ODPA-P3 PI chains extended completely along the SWCNT surface, which in turn led to enhanced mechanical characteristics in their glassy state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey V Larin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
| | - Victor M Nazarychev
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
| | - Alexey Yu Dobrovskiy
- Faculty of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, Petrodvorets, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia.
| | - Alexey V Lyulin
- Theory of Polymers and Soft Matter Group and Center for Computational Energy Research, Department of Applied Physics, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Sergey V Lyulin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
- Faculty of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, Petrodvorets, St. Petersburg 198504, Russia.
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28
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Shakirov T, Paul W. Crystallization in melts of short, semiflexible hard polymer chains: An interplay of entropies and dimensions. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:042501. [PMID: 29758595 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.042501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
What is the thermodynamic driving force for the crystallization of melts of semiflexible polymers? We try to answer this question by employing stochastic approximation Monte Carlo simulations to obtain the complete thermodynamic equilibrium information for a melt of short, semiflexible polymer chains with purely repulsive nonbonded interactions. The thermodynamics is obtained based on the density of states of our coarse-grained model, which varies by up to 5600 orders of magnitude. We show that our polymer melt undergoes a first-order crystallization transition upon increasing the chain stiffness at fixed density. This crystallization can be understood by the interplay of the maximization of different entropy contributions in different spatial dimensions. At sufficient stiffness and density, the three-dimensional orientational interactions drive the orientational ordering transition, which is accompanied by a two-dimensional translational ordering transition in the plane perpendicular to the chains resulting in a hexagonal crystal structure. While the three-dimensional ordering can be understood in terms of Onsager theory, the two-dimensional transition can be understood in terms of the liquid-hexatic transition of hard disks. Due to the domination of lateral two-dimensional translational entropy over the one-dimensional translational entropy connected with columnar displacements, the chains form a lamellar phase. Based on this physical understanding, orientational ordering and translational ordering should be separable for polymer melts. A phenomenological theory based on this understanding predicts a qualitative phase diagram as a function of volume fraction and stiffness in good agreement with results from the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Shakirov
- Institute of Physics, Martin-Luther-University, 06099 Halle, Germany
| | - W Paul
- Institute of Physics, Martin-Luther-University, 06099 Halle, Germany
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29
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Hu Y, Shao Y, Liu Z, He X, Liu B. Effect of short-chain branching on the tie chains and dynamics of bimodal polyethylene: Molecular dynamics simulation. Eur Polym J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Ramos J, Vega J, Martínez-Salazar J. Predicting experimental results for polyethylene by computer simulation. Eur Polym J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2017.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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31
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Nazarychev VM, Larin SV, Lyulin AV, Dingemans T, Kenny JM, Lyulin SV. Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Initial Crystallization Stage in an SWCNT-Polyetherimide Nanocomposite. Polymers (Basel) 2017; 9:polym9100548. [PMID: 30965851 PMCID: PMC6418835 DOI: 10.3390/polym9100548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Crystallization of all-aromatic heterocyclic polymers typically results in an improvement of their thermo-mechanical properties. Nucleation agents may be used to promote crystallization, and it is well known that the incorporation of nanoparticles, and in particular carbon-based nanofillers, may induce or accelerate crystallization through nucleation. The present study addresses the structural properties of polyetherimide-based nanocomposites and the initial stages of polyetherimide crystallization as a result of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) incorporation. We selected two amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimides ODPA-P3 and aBPDA-P3 based on 3,3′,4,4′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA), 2,3′,3,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (aBPDA) and diamine 1,4-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenoxy]benzene (P3) and simulated the onset of crystallization in the presence of SWCNTs using atomistic molecular dynamics. For ODPA-P3, we found that the planar phthalimide and phenylene moieties show pronounced ordering near the CNT (carbon nanotube) surface, which can be regarded as the initial stage of crystallization. We will discuss two possible mechanisms for ODPA-P3 crystallization in the presence of SWCNTs: the spatial confinement caused by the CNTs and π–π interactions at the CNT-polymer matrix interface. Based on our simulation results, we propose that ODPA-P3 crystallization is most likely initiated by favorable π–π interactions between the carbon nanofiller surface and the planar ODPA-P3 phthalimide and phenylene moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M Nazarychev
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
| | - Sergey V Larin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
| | - Alexey V Lyulin
- Theory of Polymers and Soft Matter Group, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Theo Dingemans
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Murray Hall 1113, 121 South Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3050, USA.
| | - Jose M Kenny
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
- Materials Science and Technology Centre, University of Perugia, Loc. Pentima, 4, 05100 Terni, Italy.
| | - Sergey V Lyulin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol'shoi pr. 31 (V.O.), St. Petersburg 199004, Russia.
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32
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Markina A, Ivanov V, Komarov P, Larin S, Kenny JM, Lyulin S. Effect of polymer chain stiffness on initial stages of crystallization of polyetherimides: Coarse-grained computer simulation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/polb.24380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Viktor Ivanov
- Moscow State University; Moscow 119991 Russian Federation
| | - Pavel Komarov
- Institute of Organoelement Compounds RAS; Moscow 119991 Russian Federation
- Tver State University; Tver 170100 Russian Federation
| | - Sergey Larin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, RAS; St. Petersburg 199004 Russian Federation
| | - José Maria Kenny
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, RAS; St. Petersburg 199004 Russian Federation
- Materials Science and Technology Center, University of Perugia; Terni Italy
| | - Sergey Lyulin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, RAS; St. Petersburg 199004 Russian Federation
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33
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Nicholson DA, Rutledge GC. Molecular simulation of flow-enhanced nucleation in n-eicosane melts under steady shear and uniaxial extension. J Chem Phys 2017; 145:244903. [PMID: 28049327 DOI: 10.1063/1.4972894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics is used to study crystal nucleation of n-eicosane under planar shear and, for the first time, uniaxial extension. A method of analysis based on the mean first-passage time is applied to the simulation results in order to determine the effect of the applied flow field type and strain rate on the steady-state nucleation rate and a characteristic growth rate, as well as the effects on kinetic parameters associated with nucleation: the free energy barrier, critical nucleus size, and monomer attachment pre-factor. The onset of flow-enhanced nucleation (FEN) occurs at a smaller critical strain rate in extension as compared to shear. For strain rates larger than the critical rate, a rapid increase in the nucleation rate is accompanied by decreases in the free energy barrier and critical nucleus size, as well as an increase in chain extension. These observations accord with a mechanism in which FEN is caused by an increase in the driving force for crystallization due to flow-induced entropy reduction. At high applied strain rates, the free energy barrier, critical nucleus size, and degree of stretching saturate, while the monomer attachment pre-factor and degree of orientational order increase steadily. This trend is indicative of a significant diffusive contribution to the nucleation rate under intense flows that is correlated with the degree of global orientational order in a nucleating system. Both flow fields give similar results for all kinetic quantities with respect to the reduced strain rate, which we define as the ratio of the applied strain rate to the critical rate. The characteristic growth rate increases with increasing strain rate, and shows a correspondence with the nucleation rate that does not depend on the type of flow field applied. Additionally, a structural analysis of the crystalline clusters indicates that the flow field suppresses the compaction and crystalline ordering of clusters, leading to the formation of large articulated clusters under strong flow fields, and compact well-ordered clusters under weak flow fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Nicholson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Gregory C Rutledge
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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34
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Welch PM. Examining the role of fluctuations in the early stages of homogenous polymer crystallization with simulation and statistical learning. J Chem Phys 2017; 146:044901. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4973346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
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35
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36
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Lyulin SV, Larin SV, Nazarychev VM, Fal’kovich SG, Kenny JM. Multiscale computer simulation of polymer nanocomposites based on thermoplastics. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES C 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1811238216010082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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37
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Nicholson DA, Rutledge GC. Analysis of nucleation using mean first-passage time data from molecular dynamics simulation. J Chem Phys 2016; 144:134105. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4945256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Nicholson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Gregory C. Rutledge
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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38
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Di Giambattista C, Sanctuary R, Perigo E, Baller J. Relaxations in the metastable rotator phase of n-eicosane. J Chem Phys 2015; 143:054507. [PMID: 26254661 DOI: 10.1063/1.4928059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We present relaxations in the metastable rotator phase of the n-alkane eicosane (C20H42). The relaxation times found by calorimetry increase with increasing temperature on approaching the melting temperature of the rotator phase. This is the opposite behavior than the one found for classical activated processes. The relaxation behavior found by calorimetry is confirmed by investigations of the lattice structure with X-ray diffraction. It is shown that one lattice parameter of the orthorhombic phase relaxes on the same time scales found in calorimetry, whereas another lattice parameter reacts almost instantly on temperature perturbations. Increasing cooperativity for the creation of conformational defects in the alkane chains is proposed to be responsible for the observed behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Di Giambattista
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - R Sanctuary
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - E Perigo
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
| | - J Baller
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
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39
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Larin SV, Glova AD, Serebryakov EB, Nazarychev VM, Kenny JM, Lyulin SV. Influence of the carbon nanotube surface modification on the microstructure of thermoplastic binders. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra07851b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural properties of polymer nanocomposites based on thermoplastic polyimides filled with surface-modified carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been studied by means of fully-atomistic molecular-dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. V. Larin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
| | - A. D. Glova
- Department of Physics
- St. Petersburg State University
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
| | - E. B. Serebryakov
- Department of Physics
- St. Petersburg State University
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
| | - V. M. Nazarychev
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
| | - J. M. Kenny
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
- Materials Science and Technology Centre
| | - S. V. Lyulin
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds
- Russian Academy of Sciences
- St. Petersburg
- Russia
- Department of Physics
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