Telechelic melt polymer’s structure variation depending on shear deformation

We present the result of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of bead and spring models of associating polymers at melt-like densities, both in static conditions and when a shear rate is applied. Specifically, we consider the response of telechelic polymers of general formula AB12A to four different values of shear rate. The A terminals tend to associate with each other and in bulk conditions form clusters or micelles. A reversible network or physical gel is formed by a large fraction of bridging chains that interconnect different clusters. The micelles assume different form depending on the interaction strengths. When a shear rate is applied, the clusters are broken and the chains tend to stretch.