Issue 5, 2017

Closer insight into the structure of moderate to densely branched comb polymers by combining modelling and linear rheological measurements

Abstract

Synthesis of combs with well-entangled backbones and long branches with high densities has always been a challenge. Steric hindrance frequently leads to coupling of chains and structural imperfections that cannot be easily distinguished by traditional characterization methods. Research studies have therefore tried to use a combination of different methods to obtain more information on the actual microstructures. In this work, a grafting-from approach is used to synthesize poly(n-butyl acrylate) combs using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in three steps including the synthesis of a backbone, cleavage of protecting groups and growth of side branches. We have compared the linear viscoelastic properties theoretically predicted by a time marching algorithm (TMA) tube based model with the measured rheological behaviour to provide a better insight into the actual microstructure formed during synthesis. For combs with branches smaller than an entanglement, no discernible hierarchical relaxation can be distinguished, while for those with longer branches, a high frequency plateau made by entangled branches can be separated from backbone's relaxation. Dilution of the backbone, after relaxation of side branches, may accelerate the final relaxation, while extra friction can delay it especially for longer branches. Such a comparison provides a better assessment of the microstructure formed in combs.

Graphical abstract: Closer insight into the structure of moderate to densely branched comb polymers by combining modelling and linear rheological measurements

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Nov 2016
Accepted
21 Dec 2016
First published
22 Dec 2016

Soft Matter, 2017,13, 1063-1073

Closer insight into the structure of moderate to densely branched comb polymers by combining modelling and linear rheological measurements

M. Ahmadi, S. Pioge, C. Fustin, J. Gohy and E. van Ruymbeke, Soft Matter, 2017, 13, 1063 DOI: 10.1039/C6SM02576E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements