@article{48af61b75635452a97bbb96f9048aa7d,
title = "Constraint Release Mechanisms for H-Polymers Moving in Linear Matrices of Varying Molar Masses",
abstract = "We investigate the influence of the environment on the relaxation dynamics of well-defined H-polymers diluted in a matrix of linear chains. The molar mass of the linear chain matrix is systematically varied and the relaxation dynamics of the H-polymer is probed by means of linear viscoelastic measurements, with the aim to understand its altered motion in different blends, compared to its pure melt state. Our results indicate that short unentangled linear chains accelerate the relaxation of both the branches and the backbone of the H-polymers by acting as an effective solvent. On the other hand, the relaxation of the H-polymer in an entangled matrix is slowed-down, with the degree of retardation depending on the entanglement number of the linear chains. We show that this retardation can be quantified by considering that the H-polymers are moving in a dilated tube at the rhythm of the motion of the linear matrix.",
author = "Helen Lentzakis and Salvatore Costanzo and DImitris Vlassopoulos and Colby, {Ralph H.} and Read, {Daniel Jon} and Hyojoon Lee and Taihyun Chang and Ruymbeke, {Evelyne Van}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank J. Roovers and N. Hadjichristidis for generously providing the H- and linear-1000k polymer, respectively, used in this work. The DSC and SEC measurements were performed at the Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany. We acknowledge support by the EU (ITN DYNACOP 214627 and Horizon 2020 EUSMI GA731019), NRF (SRC R11-2008-052-03002), and WCU (R31-2008-000-10059-0). EVR is chercheur qualifie of the FSR-FNRS. Funding Information: †Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser, Heraklion, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece ‡Department of Materials Science & Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete 70013, Greece §Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16802, United States ∥Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K. ⊥Department of Chemistry and Division of Advanced Materials Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea #Bio and Soft Matter, Institute on Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Universit{\'e} Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Louvain 1348, Belgium ABSTRACT: We investigate the influence of the environ- ment on the relaxation dynamics of well-defined H-polymers diluted in a matrix of linear chains. The molar mass of the linear chain matrix is systematically varied and the relaxation dynamics of the H-polymer is probed by means of linear viscoelastic measurements, with the aim to understand its altered motion in different blends, compared to its pure melt state. Our results indicate that short unentangled linear chains accelerate the relaxation of both the branches and the backbone of the H-polymers by acting as an effective solvent. On the other hand, the relaxation of the H-polymer in an entangled matrix is slowed-down, with the degree of retardation depending on the entanglement number of the linear chains. We show that this retardation can be quantified by considering that the H-polymers are moving in a dilated tube at the rhythm of the motion of the linear matrix. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 American Chemical Society.",
year = "2019",
month = apr,
day = "23",
doi = "10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00251",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "52",
pages = "3010--3028",
journal = "Macromolecules",
issn = "0024-9297",
publisher = "American Chemical Society",
number = "8",
}