Simulations and mode-coupling theory calculations, for a large range of the arm number f and packing fraction eta have shown that the structural arrest and the dynamics of star polymers in a good solvent are extremely rich: the systems show a reentrant melting of the disordered glass nested between two stable fluid phases that strongly resemble the equilibrium phase diagram. Starting from a simple model potential we investigate the effect of the interplay between attractive interactions of different range and ultrasoft core repulsion, on the dynamics and on the occurrence of the ideal glass transition line. In the two cases considered so far, we observed some significant differences with respect to the purely repulsive pair interaction. We also discuss the interplay between equilibrium and nonequilibrium phase behavior. The accuracy of the theoretical tools we utilized in our investigation has been checked by comparing the results with molecular dynamics simulations.

Star polymers: A study of the structural arrest in the presence of attractive interactions / F. Lo Verso, L. Reatto, G. Foffi, P. Tartaglia, K.A. Dawson. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS. - ISSN 1539-3755. - 70:6(2004), pp. 061409.61409-1-061409.61409-13. [10.1103/PhysRevE.70.061409]

Star polymers: A study of the structural arrest in the presence of attractive interactions

L. Reatto
Secondo
;
2004

Abstract

Simulations and mode-coupling theory calculations, for a large range of the arm number f and packing fraction eta have shown that the structural arrest and the dynamics of star polymers in a good solvent are extremely rich: the systems show a reentrant melting of the disordered glass nested between two stable fluid phases that strongly resemble the equilibrium phase diagram. Starting from a simple model potential we investigate the effect of the interplay between attractive interactions of different range and ultrasoft core repulsion, on the dynamics and on the occurrence of the ideal glass transition line. In the two cases considered so far, we observed some significant differences with respect to the purely repulsive pair interaction. We also discuss the interplay between equilibrium and nonequilibrium phase behavior. The accuracy of the theoretical tools we utilized in our investigation has been checked by comparing the results with molecular dynamics simulations.
colloids; glass transition; liquid structure; liquid theory; phase diagrams; polymer solutions; potential energy functions; solvent effects
Settore FIS/03 - Fisica della Materia
2004
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/16779
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