Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 16: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: Frontiers and Applications

CPP 16.5: Talk

Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 14:45–15:00, H48

Segmental Order in Polymer Networks — •Jens-Uwe Sommer — Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Strasse 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany

Polymer networks are structurally and topologically disordered soft solids. We consider orientation order of chain segments in polymer networks to relate NMR-experiments with molecular models of polymer networks [1,2]. We derive a general relation between segmental order and local forces acting on a chain under external constraints. Using this result, we consider good solvent conditions and we show that the solvent plays a crucial role for the tensor order parameter. In particular, we show that the tensor order parameter decreases due to excluded volume interactions. Using analytical results and scaling arguments we derive a universal behavior for the order parameter with respect to the equilibrium degree of swelling which can be experimentally verified [2]. In the light of these observation we discuss several microscopic models of network swelling. Using the general relation between local forces on chain bonds and the tensor order parameter we further discuss possible observations on structurally regular networks such as obtained recently in experiments based on force-balance arguments, as well as the role of entanglements.

[1] J.-U. Sommer and K. Saalwächter, European Phys. J. E 18 (2005) 167-182

[2] J.-U. Sommer, Walter Chassé, Juan López Valentín, and Kay Saalwächter, Phys. Rev. E 78, 051803 (2008)