金刚石格点上自避行走尾形链的构象统计理论

研究了金刚石格点上自避随机行走（ＳＡＷ）尾形链，采用精确计数和ＭｏｎｔｅＣａｒｌｏ模拟方法求得该ＳＡＷ尾形链的构象数Ｃ（Ｄ）１（Ｎ）和均方末端距［ｈ（Ｄ）１（Ｎ）］２及其分量随链长Ｎ的变化关系．发现它们与自由ＳＡＷ链一样都服从标度律，从这些量的计算机实验数据拟合求出了金刚石格点上ＳＡＷ尾形链的临界指数和格点指数．计算结果还表明短链ＳＡＷ在壁的法向与ＮＲＷ尾形链一样有所伸展，均方末端距的法向分量几乎是平行分量的２倍；但随Ｎ→∞，链自回避效应对壁的作用有所屏蔽．这些都与简立方格子模型上得到的结果一致．     

Conformational statistics of polymer chain terminally attached to wall (III) —NRW model loop chain

When the two end groups of a linear polymer chain are absorbed on a solid surface, the polymer chain forms the “loop” conformation. Investigation has been made on the conformational statistics of a model loop chain by the normal random walk (NRW) on a lattice confined in the half-infinite space. Based on the conformational distribution function of the NRW model tail chain, it is easy to deduce an analytical formula expressing the conformational number of the model loop chain. It was found that the ratio of the conformational number of the model loop chain to that of the free chain varies with the power functionN ^-2/3 when the chain lengthN→οο. The same result -was obtained by means of the recursion equation. The ratio of the mean square end-to-end distanceh ² for the model loop chain to its mean square bond lengthl ² is 2N/3. Compared with the free chain with the same lengthN, the mean square end-to-end distance of the model loop chain contracts to a certain extent. The basic relationships deduced were supported by the exact enumeration and Monte Carlo simulations. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.     

模型高分子尾型链的构象统计理论

基于金刚石格点上受限于半空间的随机行走，借概率论中的反射原理推导出了模型高分子尾型链的构象分布．得到了链长为Ｎ的模型尾型链的允许构象数Ｃ１（Ｎ）和末端距分布函数．在四选择模型中，发现Ｃ１（Ｎ）／４Ｎ与Ｎ－１／２成正比．模型尾型链在与壁正交方向上的均方末端距分布与平行方向比较扩张至２倍，而后者与自由链对应的分量相等．这些解析结果得到了精确计数和ＭｏｎｔｅＣａｒｌｏ模拟计算机“实验”的支持．     

近壁模型高分子链的计算机模拟

采用简立方格点上的普通无规行走 (NRW)和自避行走 (SAW )为模型链 ,研究了不可穿透的刚性壁附近高分子的构象性质 ,得出近壁链的构象熵和尺寸随一端点与壁之间距离z0 的变化 .所用的计算机模拟技术包括精确计数和MonteCarlo模拟 .数值结果表明 ,近壁链的构象熵降低遵循一种简单规律 ,即当链长愈长或一端愈接近于壁时 ,与长度相同的自由链相比 ,链因壁限制所致构象熵的降低愈大 .当链十分接近于壁时 ,其均方末端距〈R2 〉(尤其是与壁垂直的分量〈R2z〉)大于自由链的相应值 ;随z0 增大 ,〈R2 〉及〈R2z〉开始减小 ,通过某一极小值 ,然后上升 ;当z0 →∞时 ,趋于自由链的极限值 .换言之 ,近壁模型链的线团经历一个收缩再逐渐扩张的过程     

端基附壁高分子模型链的塌缩转变

借MonteCarlo和模拟退火方法研究了端基附壁高分子尾形链在不同温度下的形态变化 ,链的模型采用有最近邻相互吸引作用的自避行走 .计算机实验结果表明 ,对于端基附壁的高分子尾形链 ,与自由链一样 ,当温度逐渐降低时高分子链会发生从松散的无规线团到紧密球体的塌缩转变 .计算机模拟得到了端基附壁链的均方末端距及其分量 ,均方回转半径及分布随温度的变化 .由于刚性壁的影响 ,使得有限链长的高分子尾形链与自由链相比 ,其表示链尺寸 温度关系的曲线要稍低 .模拟还发现 ,在高温时壁对链形状的影响比较大 ,壁垂直方向上尺寸明显大于平行方向的尺寸 ,后者接近于自由链的尺寸分量 .然而 ,低于θ温度时 ,尤其是完全塌缩之后 ,壁对链形状的影响已经很小 .     

DYNAMIC MONTE CARLO STUDY ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SHAPE AND SIZE OF LINEAR POLYMER CHAINS

The correlation between shape and size of linear chains on the simple cubic lattice is investigated using a dynamicMonte Carlo technique. A positive correlation between the asphericity parameter A and the square of the end-to-end distanceR~2, as well as that between A and the square of the radius of gyration S~2, is found for both RW and SAW chains, indicatingthat a chain conformation of small size is usually more spherical than one of large size. The result can explain why the shapeof the SAW chain deviate much more from a sphere than that of the RW chain, and can also explain the similar dependenceof size and shape on chain stiffness and on the distance of the first bead of a chain from an infinitely large flat surface.     

端基附壁模型聚合物环形链的构象统计理论

环形链定义为两个端基均附壁的线形聚合物链所得的环 .采用精确计数和蒙特卡罗模拟方法 ,研究了自回避行走 (SAW)模型表示的环形链的构象 ,求得构象数和均方回转半径随链长的变化 .对于二维和三维SAW环形链 ,精确计数的最大链长分别为N =2 9和 1 9.用标度理论处理了数值结果 ,所得的标度指数和其他参数与理论预示值进行了比较 .模拟结果表明 ,SAW环形链限制壁平行方向的尺寸大于垂直方向的尺寸 ,与SAW尾形链尺寸的变化正好相反 .     

聚乙烯型尾形链构象统计的Monte Carlo研究

以聚乙烯型尾形链为例 ,根据链的实际键长、键角和Θ条件下每一链段处于不同旋转异构态的条件概率 ,用MonteCarlo模拟方法生成样本链分子 ,计算了尾形链的均方末端矩及其分量、构象数 ,并与完全计算法及理论推导值作了比较 ,讨论了尾形链构象数和沿边界方向及法线方向均方末端矩分量随链段数n及键角Φ的变化 .     

COMPUTER SIMULATION OF A SINGLE POLYMER CHAIN IN DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

In the present paper, the behavior of a single polymer chain under various solvent conditions was modeled by self-avoiding walks (SAW) with nearest neighbors attraction Δε on a simple cubic lattice. Determination of the θ-condition wasbased on the numerical results of the mean square radius of gyration and end-to-end distance. It was found that at the θtemperatue Δε/kT equals -0.27. The exponents a in the Mark-Houwink equation with different interaction parameters areconsistent with the results of experiments: under θ-condition, a = 0.5, and for a good solvent α= 0.74-0.84, respectively.     

类蛋白质分子扩散系数的模拟计算

蛋白质分子是一类比较特殊的高分子，一方面它的性质与氨基酸序列密切相关，另一方面其二级结构（如α螺旋以及β折叠等）极大地影响着它的性质．另外它的内部结构又非常紧密，与一般的高分子链完全不同．同时随着计算机技术的发展，计算机模拟日益作为一种有效的手段广泛应用于高分子科学的研究．但是由于蛋白质分子比一般的高分子结构更加复杂，如氨基酸之间有复杂的互相作用等，因此对蛋白质性质的研究往往建立在简化模型的基础上，如基于格点的HP紧密高分子模型等．虽然建立在格点模型上的蛋白质分子和真实的蛋白质分子存在着一定的差异，但基本上能体现蛋白质分子的主要特征，因此把这一类分子称为类蛋白质分子．     

Influence of excluded volume on the conformational property of tail-like chain on the simple cubic lattice

The influence of excluded volume on the conformational property of linear tail-like chain with one end attached to a flat surface is investigated by means of dynamic Monte Carlo method. Conformational properties such as mean-square end-to-end distance 〈R²〉, mean-square radius of gyration 〈S²〉 and mean asphericity parameter 〈A〉 are calculated for random walking (RW) and self-avoiding walking (SAW) tail-like chains on the simple cubic lattice. We find that the EV has nearly the same effect on 〈R²〉 as on 〈S²〉: (1) 〈R²〉_SAW/〈R²〉_RW≈〈S²〉_SAW/〈S²〉_RW∝n^0.204±0.05, where n is the chain length, and (2) the limiting value of 〈R²〉/〈S²〉≈7.7 for both chains. The distribution P(R) of the SAW tail-like chain can be expressed as a R⁴ correction of that of the RW one. We find that the value 〈A〉 of the SAW tail-like chain is bigger than that of the RW tail-like chain for all chain lengths, and the limiting values are 0.446±0.006 and 0.403±0.005 respectively.     

Effect of processes at the reactor surface on the low-pressure hydrogen f lame

The interaction of the low-pressure flame of a 2H₂-O₂ mixture with a quartz reactor surface was studied by the resonance fluorescence technique. The results confirmed the fundamental statement of N. N. Semenov’s theory concerning chain propagation in the gas and termination on the surface in the kinetic region of chain termination (quadratic decay in the heterogeneous negative chain interaction) and in the diffusion region (linear decay). The kinetic curves observed in the kinetic and diffusion chain termination regions on the wall were well matched using N. N. Semenov’s theory, taking into account the heterogeneous catalytic chain initiation and interaction processes occurring on the wall with a variable “rate constant.” The interaction of chains on the wall markedly retards ignition in the gas in the kinetic region and has almost no influence on chain propagation in the gas in the diffusion region of the heterogeneous chain termination. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1301–1308, August, 2006.     

Density and chain conformation profiles of square-well chains confined in a slit by density-functional theory

Density and chain conformation profiles of square-well chains between two parallel walls were studied by using density-functional theory. The free energy of square-well chains is separated into two contributions: the hard-sphere repulsion and the attraction. The Heaviside function is used as the weighting function for both of the two parts. The equation of state of Hu et al. is used to calculate the excess free energy of the repulsive part. The equation of state of statistical associating fluid theory for chain molecules with attractive potentials of variable range [A. Gil-Villegas et al. J. Chem. Phys. 106, 4168 (1997)] is used to calculate the excess free energy of the attractive part. Because the wall is inaccessible to a mass center of a longer chain, there exists a sharp fall in the distribution of end-to-end distance near the wall as the chain length increases. When the average density of the system is not too low, the prediction of this work is in good agreement with computer simulation results for the density profiles and the chain conformation over a wide range of chain length, temperature, and attraction strength of the walls. However, when the average density and the temperature are very low, the prediction deviates to a certain degree from the computer simulation results for molecules with long chain length. A more accurate functional approximation is needed.     

Model study for large deformation of physical polymeric gels

A model for large deformation of polymer gels with physical cross-linking is developed and shown to be in good agreement with experimental stress-strain curves which show strain hardening in intermediate strains followed by strain softening in large deformations near the yield strain. The model takes into account the coil-helix transition equilibrium and allows for the distribution of the end-to-end distance. The gel is considered to be formed by long flexible chains and crystalline zones acting as junctions of the chains. The number of segments contained in a flexible chain is variable due to the equilibrium between the two regions. As the end-to-end distance increases due to the deformation, more and more segments are reeled out from the junction zone. Finally, one end of the chain is librated from the junction and the chain becomes dangling. The appearance of dangling chains causes the strain softening because they cease to contribute to the elasticity. From the parameter dependence of the stress-strain relations, it was found that the yield behavior depends strongly on the distribution of end-to-end distance. The yield strain is approximately given by the ratio of the upper limit of the number of segments and the average end-to-end distance. The standard deviation of the end-to-end distance affects significantly the width of the peak in the stress-strain curve, thus determining the degree of strain softening.     

Convergence of the distribution functions for wormlike chains

The Daniels-type distribution functions of the end-to-end distance of three-dimensional and two-dimensional wormlike chains are obtained to terms of order t^?10, by an operational method with use of a digital computer, where t is the ratio of the total chain contour length to the Kuhn segment length in three-dimensional cases and of the contour length to the persistence length in two-dimensional cases. The convergence of the ring-closure probability and the mean reciprocal distance is examined on the basis of these distribution functions. A similar study of the moment-based distribution functions is also made.     

RATE OF INTRA-MOLECULAR CONTACT FORMATION IN SHORT TWO-DIMENSIONAL COMPACT POLYMERS CHAINS

It is important to know the rate of intra-molecular contact formation in proteins in order to understand how proteins fold clearly. Here we investigate the rate of intra-molecular contact formation in short two-dimensional compact polymer chains by calculating the probability distribution p(r) of end-to-end distance r using the enumeration calculation method and HP model on two-dimensional square lattice. The probability distribution of end-to-end distance p(r) of short two-dimensional compact polymers chains may consist of two parts, i.e. p(r) = p1(r) p2(r), where p1(r) and p2(r) are different for small r. The rate of contact formation decreases monotonically with the number of bonds N, and the rate approximately conforms to the scaling relation of k(N) ∝ N-α. Here the value of α increases with the contact radius a and it also depends on the percentage of H (hydrophobic) residues in the sequences of compact chains and the energy parameters of εHH, εHP and εPP . Some comparisons of theoretical predictions with experimental results are also made. This investigation may help us to understand the protein folding.     

Studies of solution properties of copolymers. II. Copolymer of maleic anhydride and styrene

Styrene and maleic anhydride were copolymerized in benzene. The whole polymer thus obtained was fractionated with acetone and petroleum ether as the solvent and precipitant, respectively. The viscosities and osmotic pressures of the fractions were determined in tetrahydrofuran. The relation between the intrinsic viscosity and the molecular weight, [η] = 5.07 × 10^?5 M?_n^0.81, was obtained in tetrahydrofuran. The unperturbed mean square end-to-end distance was estimated by the Stockmayer-Fixman equation. A theoretical equation for the mean square end-to-end distance for a chain of repeating units of different bond lengths a and b with a fixed valence angle θ and without restriction of internal rotation was presented and applied to this copolymer. In addition, the equation of the mean-square end-to-end distance derived by Wall for trans-polyisoprene without rotational restriction was modified for application to this copolymer. The result evaluated with our equation was about 26% smaller than that from the modified Wall equation. A steric parameter for the present copolymer is defined and discussed in comparison with those of polystyrenesulfone and polystyrene.     

Computer simulation of bottle-brush polymers with flexible backbone: good solvent versus theta solvent conditions

By molecular dynamics simulation of a coarse-grained bead-spring-type model for a cylindrical molecular brush with a backbone chain of N(b) effective monomers to which with grafting density σ side chains with N effective monomers are tethered, several characteristic length scales are studied for variable solvent quality. Side chain lengths are in the range 5 ≤ N ≤ 40, backbone chain lengths are in the range 50 ≤ N(b) ≤ 200, and we perform a comparison to results for the bond fluctuation model on the simple cubic lattice (for which much longer chains are accessible, N(b) ≤ 1027, and which corresponds to an athermal, very good, solvent). We obtain linear dimensions of the side chains and the backbone chain and discuss their N-dependence in terms of power laws and the associated effective exponents. We show that even at the theta point the side chains are considerably stretched, their linear dimension depending on the solvent quality only weakly. Effective persistence lengths are extracted both from the orientational correlations and from the backbone end-to-end distance; it is shown that different measures of the persistence length (which would all agree for Gaussian chains) are not mutually consistent with each other and depend distinctly both on N(b) and the solvent quality. A brief discussion of pertinent experiments is given.     

Static and dynamic scaling behavior of a polymer melt model with triple-well bending potential

We perform molecular-dynamics simulations for polymer melts of the coarse-grained poly(vinyl alcohol) model that crystallizes upon slow cooling. To establish the properties of its high temperature, liquid state as a reference point, we characterize in detail the structural features of equilibrated polymer melts with chain lengths 5 ≤ N ≤ 1000 at a temperature slightly above their crystallization temperature. We find that the conformations of sufficiently long polymers with N > 50 obey essentially the Flory's ideality hypothesis. The chain length dependence of the end-to-end distance and the gyration radius follow the scaling predictions of ideal chains and the probability distributions of the end-to-end distance, and form factors are in good agreement with those of ideal chains. The intrachain correlations reveal evidences for incomplete screening of self-interactions. However, the observed deviations are small. Our results rule out any preordering or mesophase structure formation that are proposed as precursors of polymer crystallization in the melt. Moreover, we characterize in detail primitive paths of long entangled polymer melts and we examine scaling predictions of Rouse and the reptation theory for the mean squared displacement of monomers and polymers center of mass. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1376–1392     

Conformational studies of bottle-brush polymers absorbed on a flat solid surface

The adsorption of a bottle-brush polymer end-grafted with one chain end of its backbone to a flat substrate surface is studied by Monte Carlo simulation of a coarse-grained model, that previously has been characterized in the bulk, assuming a dilute solution under good solvent conditions. Applying the bond fluctuation model on the simple cubic lattice, we vary the backbone chain length N(b) from N(b)=67 to N(b)=259 effective monomeric units, the side chain length N from N=6 to N=48, and set the grafting density to σ=1, i.e., parameters that correspond well to the experimentally accessible range. When the adsorption energy strength ? is varied, we find that the adsorption transition (which becomes well-defined in the limit N(b)→∞, for arbitrary finite N) roughly occurs at the same value ?(c) as for ordinary linear chains (N=0), at least within our statistical errors. Mean square end-to-end distances and gyration radii of the side chains are obtained, as well as the monomer density profile in the direction perpendicular to the adsorbing surface. We show that for longer side chains the adsorption of bottle-brushes is a two-step process, the decrease of the perpendicular linear dimension of side chains with adsorption energy strength can even be nonmonotonic. Also, the behavior of the static structure factor S(q) is analyzed, evidence for a quasi-two-dimensional scaling is presented, and consequences for the interpretation of experiments are discussed.