Deformation of globular polysoaps: extension, confinement and extensional flow

A theoretical model of the extension and confinement of globular polysoaps predicts novel force laws. Polysoaps are polymers comprising of a flexible hydrophilic backbone incorporating, at intervals, amphiphilic monomers. The equilibrium configuration of long polysoaps, that form numerous spherical intrachain micelles, is a spherical globule of close packed micelles. The coupling of the deformation to the hierarchical self organization of the chain gives rise to a distinctive force law involving, for extension, two plateau regimes. When the chain is stretched by extensional flow the two regimes merge and the polysoap exhibits a single globule-stretch transition. Received 16 June 1998 and Received in final form 19 November 1998