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Melts with topologically distinct molecular structures are investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. We determine the mean polymer size and shape, and glass transition temperature for each molecular topology. Both in terms of structure and dynamics, ring polymers behave similarly to star polymers with f = 5 to 6 arms, close to the transition point between anisotropic chains to spherically symmetric particle-like structure. These findings raise fundamental questions regarding the importance of free chain-ends and chain topology in the packing and dynamics of polymeric materials.
Citation
The Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume
143
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
star polymers, ring polymers, molecular topology, polymer melt dynamics, polymer shape and size, polymer-particle transition