Journal Article

FZJ-2015-06850

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Elasticity of polymeric nanocolloidal particles

Riest, J.FZJ* ; Athanasopoulou, L. ; Egorov, S. A. ; Likos, C. N. ; Ziherl, P. (Corresponding author)

2015
Nature Publishing Group London

This record in other databases:      

Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/9472  doi:10.1038/srep15854

Abstract: Softness is an essential mechanical feature of macromolecular particles such as polymer-grafted nanocolloids, polyelectrolyte networks, cross-linked microgels as well as block copolymer and dendrimer micelles. Elasticity of individual particles directly controls their swelling, wetting, and adsorption behaviour, their aggregation and self-assembly as well as structural and rheological properties of suspensions. Here we use numerical simulations and self-consistent field theory to study the deformation behaviour of a single spherical polymer brush upon diametral compression. We observe a universal response, which is rationalised using scaling arguments and interpreted in terms of two coarse-grained models. At small and intermediate compressions the deformation can be accurately reproduced by modelling the brush as a liquid drop, whereas at large compressions the brush behaves as a soft ball. Applicable far beyond the pairwise-additive small-strain regime, the models may be used to describe microelasticity of nanocolloids in severe confinement including dense disordered and crystalline phases.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Weiche Materie (ICS-3)

Research Program(s):

1. 551 - Functional Macromolecules and Complexes (POF3-551) (POF3-551)

Appears in the scientific report 2015

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

---