Viscosity of macromolecules with complex architecture

VYV Rudyak and AS Sergeev and EYE Kozhunova and VV Molchanov and O Philippova and A Chertovich, POLYMER, 244, 124622 (2022).

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2022.124622

It is well-known that the architecture of macromolecules plays an important role in the hydrodynamics and viscosity of its semi-diluted solutions. However, the systematic study of the rheology of macromolecules with complex topology, such as microgels, remains a difficult task. In this work, we use the computer simulations methods of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics to study the viscous properties of randomly cross-linked microgels and compare it to multiple reference systems (linear chains, 10-arm star polymers and hard spheres). We show that the microgel cross-linking density and, thus, the particle shape, plays crucial role in its shear viscosity. Also, in contrast to a simpler polymer systems, microgel dispersions in good solvent show much less shear thinning.

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