A Study Of Local Polymer Dynamics Using Computer Simulations And Nmr Experiments

Polymers exhibit a range of physical characteristics, from rubber-like elasticity to the glassy state. These particular properties are controlled at the molecular level by the mobility of the structural constituents. Remarkable changes in mobility can be witnessed with temperature, over narrow, well defined regions, termed relaxation processes. This is an important, unique phenomenon controlling polymer transition behaviour and is described here at an introductory level. The important types of relaxation processes from amorphous to crystalline polymers and polymeric miscible blends are covered, in conjunction with the broad spectrum of experimental methods used to study them. In-depth discussion of molecular level interpretation, including atomistic level computer simulations and applications to molecular mechanism elucidation, are discussed. The result is a self-contained approach to polymeric interpretation suitable for researchers in materials science, physics and chemistry interested in the relaxation processes of polymeric systems.

Polymers undergo a sharp coil to stretch conformational transition in extension dominated flows when the strain rate exceeds a critical value. Dramatic change in flow behavior is known to occur at the coil-stretch transition, making it useful for several commercial applications. Despite decades of study, this phenomenon remains surrounded with controversy as the effect of solvent properties and fluid flow elements on this transition is not fully understood. In this work, we present a study of the coil-stretch transition and related hysteresis phenomenon using stochastic computer simulations. We first investigate the effect of solvent quality on the coil-stretch transition using Brownian dynamics simulations. Unlike experiments, which are plagued with problems related to polydispersity of polymers and inaccurate control over flow profiles, simulations offer a powerful platform to systematically study the effect of solvent quality while keeping all other parameters in the system constant. The system consists of a polymer subjected to planar elongational flow in both theta solvents and good solvents. The polymer is represented by a bead-spring chain model undergoing elongational flow. Solvent-mediated effects such as fluctuating hydrodynamic interactions (HI) and excluded volume (EV) are included rigorously. Conformational hysteresis is understood in terms of a 1-D energy landscape theory with an activation energy barrier for transition. At steady state, depending upon the flow rate, the energy landscape can either have one or two energy wells. An energy landscape with one well corresponds to the coiled state at low flow rate and stretched state at high flowrate. The double welled landscape corresponds to the hysteretic regime where both coiled and stretched conformational states coexist across the ensemble population. A key factor in determining the effect of solvent quality is the use of a proper measure of solvent quality. In almost all earlier studies, the effect of molecular weight on solvent quality has been neglected, producing inconsistent results. Here, the solvent quality is quantified carefully such that the effect of molecular weight and temperature is taken into account. Contrary to earlier findings, it is observed that with improvement in solvent quality, the chains unravel faster and the critical strain rate at which the coil to stretch transition takes place decreases. Furthermore, the solvent quality has a profound effect on the scaling of the critical strain rate with molecular weight and on both the transient and steady state properties of the system. Universal functions are shown to exist for the observed dynamic and static properties, which will prove useful in determining the operating parameters for experiments. In particular, the ratio of the two different relaxation times (longest relaxation time and zero shear rate viscosity) is found to be a universal function of solvent quality independent of molecular weight. The relaxation times (both the longest relaxation time and the zero shear rate viscosity) increase while the critical strain rate is found to decrease with solvent quality. Next, the study of conformational hysteresis is extended to more complicated 3-D flows to understand the effect of flow vorticity on this phenomenon. Heretofore, there has been no systematic methodology for studying the dynamical interactions between polymer molecules and elementary flow patterns in three-dimensional flows. Such a framework is essential not just for gaining valuable insights into the physics of complex fluids at a fundamental level, but it is also crucial for various important applications like turbulent drag reduction where the underlying physical mechanisms involve dynamical interactions between polymers and turbulence fine scale flow features. Such a study is presented here to provide a framework to interpret complex fluid phenomenon in terms of elementary flow patterns. We investigate the conformational hysteresis using rigorous Brownian dynamics simulations and specifically explore the effect of flow vorticity on the lifetime and width of the hysteresis window in 3-D flows. A systematic procedure is developed with careful eigenvalue analysis to explore the sole effect of vorticity on polymer dynamics keeping the principal strain rate fixed. It is observed that the hysteresis width shrinks due to increase in flow vorticity irrespective of the flow type (bi-extensional, bi-compressional, spiral-inwards, spiral-outwards etc). This is further traced to the alignment of eigenvectors with the principal eigenvector direction leading to enhanced fluctuations. Vorticity is found to have a significant effect on both the transient and the steady state properties. Understanding the effect of vorticity on polymer conformational hysteresis can further help in understanding the fundamental processes in complex flows.

Polymers undergo a sharp coil to stretch conformational transition in extension dominated flows when the strain rate exceeds a critical value. Dramatic change in flow behavior is known to occur at the coil-stretch transition, making it useful for several commercial applications. Despite decades of study, this phenomenon remains surrounded with controversy as the effect of solvent properties and fluid flow elements on this transition is not fully understood. In this work, we present a study of the coil-stretch transition and related hysteresis phenomenon using stochastic computer simulations. We first investigate the effect of solvent quality on the coil-stretch transition using Brownian dynamics simulations. Unlike experiments, which are plagued with problems related to polydispersity of polymers and inaccurate control over flow profiles, simulations offer a powerful platform to systematically study the effect of solvent quality while keeping all other parameters in the system constant. The system consists of a polymer subjected to planar elongational flow in both theta solvents and good solvents. The polymer is represented by a bead-spring chain model undergoing elongational flow. Solvent-mediated effects such as fluctuating hydrodynamic interactions (HI) and excluded volume (EV) are included rigorously. Conformational hysteresis is understood in terms of a 1-D energy landscape theory with an activation energy barrier for transition. At steady state, depending upon the flow rate, the energy landscape can either have one or two energy wells. An energy landscape with one well corresponds to the coiled state at low flow rate and stretched state at high flowrate. The double welled landscape corresponds to the hysteretic regime where both coiled and stretched conformational states coexist across the ensemble population. A key factor in determining the effect of solvent quality is the use of a proper measure of solvent quality. In almost all earlier studies, the effect of molecular weight on solvent quality has been neglected, producing inconsistent results. Here, the solvent quality is quantified carefully such that the effect of molecular weight and temperature is taken into account. Contrary to earlier findings, it is observed that with improvement in solvent quality, the chains unravel faster and the critical strain rate at which the coil to stretch transition takes place decreases. Furthermore, the solvent quality has a profound effect on the scaling of the critical strain rate with molecular weight and on both the transient and steady state properties of the system. Universal functions are shown to exist for the observed dynamic and static properties, which will prove useful in determining the operating parameters for experiments. In particular, the ratio of the two different relaxation times (longest relaxation time and zero shear rate viscosity) is found to be a universal function of solvent quality independent of molecular weight. The relaxation times (both the longest relaxation time and the zero shear rate viscosity) increase while the critical strain rate is found to decrease with solvent quality. Next, the study of conformational hysteresis is extended to more complicated 3-D flows to understand the effect of flow vorticity on this phenomenon. Heretofore, there has been no systematic methodology for studying the dynamical interactions between polymer molecules and elementary flow patterns in three-dimensional flows. Such a framework is essential not just for gaining valuable insights into the physics of complex fluids at a fundamental level, but it is also crucial for various important applications like turbulent drag reduction where the underlying physical mechanisms involve dynamical interactions between polymers and turbulence fine scale flow features. Such a study is presented here to provide a framework to interpret complex fluid phenomenon in terms of elementary flow patterns. We investigate the conformational hysteresis using rigorous Brownian dynamics simulations and specifically explore the effect of flow vorticity on the lifetime and width of the hysteresis window in 3-D flows. A systematic procedure is developed with careful eigenvalue analysis to explore the sole effect of vorticity on polymer dynamics keeping the principal strain rate fixed. It is observed that the hysteresis width shrinks due to increase in flow vorticity irrespective of the flow type (bi-extensional, bi-compressional, spiral-inwards, spiral-outwards etc). This is further traced to the alignment of eigenvectors with the principal eigenvector direction leading to enhanced fluctuations. Vorticity is found to have a significant effect on both the transient and the steady state properties. Understanding the effect of vorticity on polymer conformational hysteresis can further help in understanding the fundamental processes in complex flows.

The structural regularity of precise polyethylenes also enables robust comparisons between experiments and computer simulations. At pico- to nano-seconds time scales and length scales of polymer and aggregate dynamics, neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations were combined to extend the knowledge of the molecular-level aggregated polymer dynamics. These experiments provide a baseline for future studies of ion-conduction in associating polymer melts.

This book was first published in 2007. Polymers exhibit a range of physical characteristics, from rubber-like elasticity to the glassy state. These particular properties are controlled at the molecular level by the mobility of the structural constituents. Remarkable changes in mobility can be witnessed with temperature, over narrow, well defined regions, termed relaxation processes. This is an important, unique phenomenon controlling polymer transition behaviour and is described here at an introductory level. The important types of relaxation processes from amorphous to crystalline polymers and polymeric miscible blends are covered, in conjunction with the broad spectrum of experimental methods used to study them in 2007. In-depth discussion of molecular level interpretation, including atomistic level computer simulations and applications to molecular mechanism elucidation, are discussed. The result is a self-contained approach to polymeric interpretation suitable for researchers in materials science, physics and chemistry interested in the relaxation processes of polymeric systems.

Field-cycling NMR relaxometry is evolving into a methodology of widespread interest with recent technological developments resulting in powerful and versatile commercial instruments. Polymers, liquid crystals, biomaterials, porous media, tissue, cement and many other materials of practical importance can be studied using this technique. This book summarises the expertise of leading scientists in the area and the editor is well placed, after four decades of working in this field, to ensure a broad ranging and high quality title. Starting with an overview of the basic principles of the technique and the scope of its use, the content then develops to look at theory, instrumentation, practical limitations and applications in different systems. Newcomers to the field will find this book invaluable for successful use of the technique. Researchers already in academic and industrial settings, interested in molecular dynamics and magnetic resonance, will discover an important addition to the literature.