Issue 14, 2013

Topological entanglement length in polymer melts and nanocomposites by a DPD polymer model

Abstract

We investigate the topological constraints (entanglements) in polymernanorod nanocomposites in comparison to polymer melts using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) polymer model simulations. The nanorods have a radius smaller than the polymer radius of gyration and an aspect ratio of 7.5. We observe an increase in the number of entanglements (50% decrease of Ne with 11% volume fraction of nanorods dispersed in the polymer matrix) in the nanocomposites as evidenced by larger contour lengths of the primitive paths. The end-to-end distance is essentially unchanged with the nanorod volume fraction (0–11%). Interaction between polymers and nanorods affects the dispersion of nanorods in the nanocomposites.

Graphical abstract: Topological entanglement length in polymer melts and nanocomposites by a DPD polymer model

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Nov 2012
Accepted
11 Feb 2013
First published
27 Feb 2013

Soft Matter, 2013,9, 3877-3884

Topological entanglement length in polymer melts and nanocomposites by a DPD polymer model

A. Karatrantos, N. Clarke, R. J. Composto and K. I. Winey, Soft Matter, 2013, 9, 3877 DOI: 10.1039/C3SM27651A

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