Kinetics of polymer translocation through a pore

We theoretically study kinetics of a polymer threading through a pore embedded in a flat membrane. We numerically solve three coupled kinetic equations for the number n(1) of polymer segments in one side of the membrane and expansion factors of the polymer chain in each side of the membrane. We find the time evolution n(1) proportional to t(1/(1+nu)) at late stages and the translocation time tau(t) is scaled as tau(t) proportional to 1+nu) for large number n of the polymer segments, where nu is the effective size exponent of the radius of gyration of the polymer. When the polymer is translocated into a region with a good solvent condition (nu=3/5), we obtain n(1) proportional to t(5/8) and tau(t) proportional to n(8/5).     

Stability of a model alkali-soluble associative polymer in the presence of a weak and a strong base

 Hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion (HASE) polymer is solubilized by the addition of a base. When the pH is increased to greater than 6.5, methacrylic acids on the polymer backbone are neutralized and the carboxylated latex polymer goes into solution causing a large increase in the viscosity due to inter-molecular associations of the hydrophobes. The stability of the viscosity of the polymer solution at pH in the range 9–10 was studied in the presence of a strong (NaOH) and a weak [1-amino-1-methylpropanol (AMP)] base. No change in the viscosity or the moduli was observed for the polymer in AMP. Reduction in the viscous and elastic properties of the polymer solution in NaOH was observed after 4 weeks. Such small changes are detectable using the superposition of oscillation on the steady shear technique. The decrease in the viscoelastic properties is attributed to the hydrolysis reaction of the urethane groups of the macromonomer, which resulted in a decrease in the number of hydrophobes per polymer chain. It is recommended that a weak base be used to neutralise the HASE polymer in order to avoid the possibility of compositional changes in the polymer after neutralisation for more than 6 weeks. Received: 19 May 1998 Accepted in revised form: 26 October 1998     

Equilibrium conformational dynamics of a polymer in a solvent

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the conformational dynamics of a bead-spring model polymer in an explicit solvent under good solvent conditions. The dynamics of the polymer chain were investigated using an analysis of the time autocorrelation functions of the Rouse coordinates of the polymer chain. We have investigated the variation of the correlation functions with polymer chain length N, solvent density rho, and system size. The measured initial decay rates gamma(p) of the correlation functions were compared with the predictions from a theory of polymer dynamics which uses the Oseen tensor to describe hydrodynamic interactions between monomers. Over the range of chain lengths considered (N = 30-60 monomers), the predicted scaling of gamma(p) proportional to N(-3nu) was observed at high rho, where nu is the polymer scaling exponent. The predicted gamma(p) are generally higher than the measured values. This discrepancy increases with decreasing rho, as a result in the breakdown in the conditions required for the Oseen approximation. The agreement between theory and simulation at high rho improves considerably if the theoretical expression for gamma(p) is modified to avoid sum-to-integral approximations, and if the values of (R(p)2), which are used in the theory, are taken directly from the simulation rather than being calculated using approximate scaling relations. The observed finite-size scaling of gamma(p) is not quantitatively consistent with the theoretical predictions.     

Behavior of a polymer chain immersed in a binary mixture of solvents

The behavior of a polymer chain immersed in a binary solvent mixture is investigated via a single-polymer simulation using an effective Hamiltonian, where the solvent effects are taken into account through a density-functional theory for polymer-solvent admixtures. The liquid-liquid phase separation of the binary solvent mixture is modeled as that of a Lennard-Jones binary fluid mixture with weakly attractive interactions between the different components. Two types of energetic preferences of the polymer chain for the better solvent-(A) no preferential solvophilicity and (B) strong preferential solvophilicity-are employed as polymer-solvent interaction models. The radius of gyration and the polymer-solvent radial distribution functions are determined from the simulations of various molar fractions along an isotherm slightly above the critical temperature of the liquid-liquid phase separation. These quantities near the critical point conspicuously depend on the strength of the preferential solvophilicity. In the case where the polymer exhibits a strong preferential solvophilicity, a remarkable expansion of the polymer chain is observed near the critical point. On the other hand, in the case where the polymer has no preferential solvophilicity, no characteristic variation of the polymer conformation is observed even near the critical point. These results indicate that the expansion of a polymer chain enhances the local phase separation around it, acting as a nucleus of demixing in the vicinity of the critical point. This phenomenon in binary solvents near the liquid-liquid critical point is similar to the expansion of the polymer chain in one-component supercritical solvents near the liquid-vapor critical point, which we have reported [T. Sumi and H. Sekino J. Chem. Phys. 122, 194910 (2005)].     

Cyclic nonlinear behavior of a glassy polymer using a contact method

The effects of repeated large strain shear cycles on the dynamics of a glassy acrylate polymer are investigated using an original contact method. It is based on the measurement of the shear properties of thin (about 50 μm) polymer films geometrically confined within contacts between elastic substrates. Under small amplitude (300 nm–10 μm) oscillating lateral displacements, friction at the contact interface can be neglected and the measurement of the contact lateral response thus provides information about the rheology of the sheared polymer film. Using this approach, the complex shear modulus of the polymer film can be measured both in the linear (viscoelastic) and in the nonlinear regimes. The investigations are focused on the changes in mechanical properties induced in a large strain regime where the polymer glass is cyclically sheared up to the yield point. During the application of large strain cycles, the mechanical response of the polymer glass slowly evolves toward a quasi stabilized state which is described from the measurement of an apparent–strain dependent–complex shear modulus. When the applied strain is increased by a tenfold factor, this apparent shear modulus decreases by about one decade. These underlying changes are investigated from a consideration of the time dependent linear viscoelastic properties after the mechanical stimulus. Both mechanical rejuvenation and recovery (ageing) effects are evidenced. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Simulation study on the translocation of a partially charged polymer through a nanopore

The translocation of a partially charged polymer through a neutral nanopore under external electrical field is studied by using dynamic Monte Carlo method on a simple cubic lattice. One monomer in the polymer is charged and it suffers a driving force when it locates inside the pore. Two time scales, mean first passage time τ(FP) with the first monomer restricted to never draw back into cis side and translocation time τ for polymer continuously threading through nanopore, are calculated. The first passage time τ(FP) decreases with the increase in the driving force f, and the dependence of τ(FP) on the position of charged monomer M is in agreement with the theoretical results using Fokker-Planck equation [A. Mohan, A. B. Kolomeisky, and M. Pasquali, J. Chem. Phys. 128, 125104 (2008)]. But the dependence of τ on M shows a different behavior: It increases with f for M < N/2 with N the polymer length. The novel behavior of τ is explained qualitatively from dynamics of polymer during the translocation process and from the free energy landscape.     

Organogelation by polymer organogelators with a L-lysine derivative: formation of a three-dimensional network consisting of supramolecular and conventional polymers

Polymer compounds consisting of a L-lysine derivative and conventional polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol), polycarbonate, polyesters, and poly(alkylene), have been synthesized and their organogelation properties examined in various solvents. These polymer compounds function as good organogelators that form organogels in many organic solvents and oils. The organogelation ability is almost independent of the polymer backbone. Observation by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) demonstrates that the polymer organogelators form a supramolecular polymer with a diameter of several tens of nanometers and create a three-dimensional network in organogels. FT-IR spectroscopic analysis shows that the supramolecular polymer is mainly formed by the self-assembly of L-lysine segments through hydrogen-bonding and van der Waals interactions. Furthermore, the organogels formed by the polymer organogelators have a lower gel-sol temperature and higher gel strength than those of a low-molecular-weight model organogelator.     

Fabrication of multicolor patterns with a single dye species on a polymer surface

Multicolored patterns can be fabricated by evaporating a single dye species on a prepatterned polymer substrate. The ratios of dye to polymer are different on protrusion and recess areas of the prepatterned surface, which can result in different aggregates and emissions. The polymer substrate was prepatterned using nanoimprint lithography (NIL) without any further process. This method may provide a facile route for fabricating large-area multicolored patterns.     

Photocatalytic function of a polymer-supported B12 complex with a ruthenium trisbipyridine photosensitizer

The hybrid polymer was synthesized by a radical polymerization of a B(12) derivative and a Ru complex having styrene moieties in each peripheral position, and the hybrid polymer showed photocatalytic activity for molecular transformation with visible light irradiation.     

Solid-state synthesis of a ladder polymer

Solid-state synthesis of a cyclically bound ladder polymer from a cyclic tetradiyne (cyclodotriaconta-1,3,9,11,17,19,25,27-octayne) is described. Irradiation of the colorless, needlelike monomer crystals with interstitially incorporated chloroform with 50 Mrad of ⁶⁰Co γ-ray radiation results in red-brown polymer fibers in nearly quantitative yield. Infrared, Raman, and x-ray diffraction analyses of the polymer are consistent with polymerization by a 1,4-addition reaction at each diacetylene linkage to produce four fully conjugated chains joined together in pairs by a total of four ? (CH₂)₄? interchain linkages per 4.8-Å polymer repeat unit. Conformationally, it appears that the cyclic tetradiyne monomer polymerizes via a chair form. The results of the mechanical and thermal analyses indicate the presence of unreacted diacetylene functionality in the ladder polymer crystals.     

Construction of polymeric delta-graph: a doubly fused tricyclic topology

A doubly fused tricyclic polymer architecture, corresponding to a delta-graph, has been constructed effectively through metathesis polymer cyclization (MPC) of an 8-shaped dicyclic polymer precursor having two allyl groups placed at opposite positions of the two rings of the 8-shaped structure. The 8-shaped polymer precursor has been obtained through the covalent conversion of an electrostatic self-assembly (composed of two units of the linear poly(tetrahydrofuran)s, poly(THF)s, having pyrrolidinium salt end groups and having a pendant allyl group at the middle of the chain, carrying a tetrafunctional carboxylate counteranion) by the heating treatment under appropriate dilution to cause the ring-opening reaction of pyrrolidinium salt groups by carboxylate anions.     

Thermomechanical analysis of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal containing a thermoplastic elastomer

Bulk samples of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) containing polystyrene (PS) and a thermoelastic elastomer as polymer matrices, have been prepared by a thermally-induced phase separation method. Thermomechanical analysis measurements revealed that the PDLC containing the thermoplastic elastomer possessed rubber-like elasticity even in the mesomorphic temperature range of the LC while the PDLC based on PS showed plastic deformation during the measurement.     

Simulating the collapse transition of a two-dimensional semiflexible lattice polymer

It has been revealed by mean-field theories and computer simulations that the nature of the collapse transition of a polymer is influenced by its bending stiffness epsilon(b). In two dimensions, a recent analytical work demonstrated that the collapse transition of a partially directed lattice polymer is always first order as long as epsilon(b) is positive [H. Zhou et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 158302 (2006)]. Here we employ Monte Carlo simulation to investigate systematically the effect of bending stiffness on the static properties of a two-dimensional lattice polymer. The system's phase diagram at zero force is obtained. Depending on epsilon(b) and the temperature T, the polymer can be in one of the three phases: crystal, disordered globule, or swollen coil. The crystal-globule transition is discontinuous and the globule-coil transition is continuous. At moderate or high values of epsilon(b) the intermediate globular phase disappears and the polymer has only a discontinuous crystal-coil transition. When an external force is applied, the force-induced collapse transition will either be continuous or discontinuous, depending on whether the polymer is originally in the globular or the crystal phase at zero force. The simulation results also demonstrate an interesting scaling behavior of the polymer at the force-induced globule-coil transition.     

Thermomechanical analysis of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal containing a thermoplastic elastomer

Bulk samples of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) containing polystyrene (PS) and a thermoelastic elastomer as polymer matrices, have been prepared by a thermally-induced phase separation method. Thermomechanical analysis measurements revealed that the PDLC containing the thermoplastic elastomer possessed rubber-like elasticity even in the mesomorphic temperature range of the LC while the PDLC based on PS showed plastic deformation during the measurement.     

Thermomechanical behavior of a polyphenylimide-quinoxaline

Linear polyphenylimide-quinoxalines (PPIQ) can be crosslinked by isothermal heat treatment in an inert atmosphere. To show this, three polyphenylimide-quinoxalines were prepared which differed only in molecular weight and polymer chain endings. Apparent activation energies of thermal crosslinking were then obtained from the rates of change of T_g as a function of time and temperature. The values (60 kcal/mole) were essentially the same as those for the thermal degradation of the same polymer in vacuum. Differences in polymer molecular weight had a distinct effect on the rates of change of T_g but the polymer chain ends seemed to have a lesser effect than previously observed on polyphenylquinoxalines (PPQ). Nevertheless, the rate of change in T_g is greater for PPIQ than for PPQ of a similar molecular weight. This indicates that the imide portion of the polymer chain leads to faster crosslinking under isothermal conditions.     

Modeling of the optical anisotropy of a dye polarizer

A new model has been developed to account for the dependence of the optical anisotropy of a dye polarizer on the dye concentration. The effect of the dye concentration has been studied through an examination of the changes in the orientation distribution of the polymer. The model takes into account the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the dichroic dye, the polymer orientation, the polymer orientation distribution, and the dye orientation with respect to the polymer. It is assumed that (1) the orientation distribution function of the polymer segments can be expressed as an elliptical distribution function and that (2) the free rotation of each dye molecule on its axis is suppressed because of the attraction force between the dye molecules and the polymer chains. The pseudo‐order parameter, which takes into account the aforementioned assumptions, determines the relation between single‐piece transmittance and polarizing efficiency. The orientation distribution of the polymer molecules in the experiment and its effect on the optical performance of a polarizer are quantitatively determined. The model predicts that the effect of the orientation distribution becomes more significant as the polymer chains are oriented more highly. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1363–1370, 2002     

Supramolecular and coordination polymer complexes supported by a tripodal tripyridine ligand containing a 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer

By By combining a tripodal tripyridine ligand containing a 1,3,5-triethylbenzene spacer (L) with several divalent transition-metal chlorides, we have selectively prepared a capsule-type supramolecular complex, [PdII3(L)2Cl6] x 2H2O, and one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer complexes, ([CuII(L)Cl2] x C2H5OH)n, ([CoII3(L)2Cl6] x 2CH2Cl2)n, and ([ZnII3(L)2Cl6] x 2H2O)n, with a zigzag polymer chain, a linear polymer chain, and a ladder polymer chain structure, respectively. All the structures were established in detail by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and the factors inducing the structural differences among the complexes are discussed by taking account of the differences in coordination geometry (square planar vs tetrahedral) as well as metal-ligand binding strength in the complexes.     

PAS-Formaldehyde Polymer as a Polymeric Ligand

p-Aminosalicylic acid (PAS) was condensed with formaldehyde in the presence of aqueous oxalic acid and aqueous sodium hydroxide. The polymer sample (PAS-F,1) obtained withacid catalyst was characterized by IR spectral study, by its M_n determined by nonaqueous conductometric titration both against standard acid and alkali, by viscometric study in formic acid, and by DTA. The IR spectral and general characteristics of a polymer sample (PAS-F,2) prepared in the presence of aqueous alkali resemble those of a polymer sample (AP-F) prepared similarly from m-aminophenol and formaldehyde, indicating decarboxylation of PAS during the base-catalyzed polymerization of PAS with formaldehyde. Polymeric metal chelates of Fe(III), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Mn(II) ions with the PAS-F,1 polymer sample have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectral study, measurements of magnetic moments, and thermal analyses. Chelation ion-exchanging properties of the PAS-F,1 polymer sample have also been studied employing the batch equilibration method.     

The mechanism of perylene photo-oxidation in a water-soluble polymeric photocatalyst

The photo-oxidation of perylene in aqueous solutions of a polymeric photocatalyst was investigated to probe the mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation. Perylene and other hydrophobic molecules are efficiently solubilized in aqueous polymer solutions with distribution coefficients as high as 4 x 10⁶. The rate of perylene photo-oxidation was much more rapid in aqueous polymer solutions than in organic solvents. In organic solvents, ¹0₂ sensitizers (rose bengal) had little effect on the reaction, but electron acceptors, such as dicyanobenzene, caused an acceleration in rate. Naphthoquinone was suggested as a potential electron acceptor in the naphthalene-containing polymer, and it was shown to be formed in small concentrations by polymer oxidation. It was concluded that the polymer plays several key functions in perylene photo-oxidation: (1) solubilization of the hydrophobic molecule; (2) energy migration through the polymer coil and energy transfer, providing additional photochemical energy to the reactants; (3) the enhancement of oxidation by photoinduced electron transfer via provision of an electron acceptor and facilitation of charge separation.     

Structural modes of a polymer in the repton model

Using extensive computer simulations, the behavior of the structural modes-more precisely, the eigenmodes of a phantom Rouse polymer-are characterized for a polymer in the three-dimensional repton model and are used to study the polymer dynamics at time scales well before the tube renewal. Although these modes are not the eigenmodes for a polymer in the repton model, we show that numerically the modes maintain a high degree of statistical independence. The correlations in the mode amplitudes decay exponentially with (p∕N)(2)A(t), in which p is the mode number, N is the polymer length, and A(t) is a single function shared by all modes. In time, the quantity A(t) causes an exponential decay for the mode amplitude correlation functions for times <1; a stretched exponential with an exponent 1∕2 between times 1 and τ(R) ～ N(2), the time-scale for diffusion of tagged reptons along the contour of the polymer; and again an exponential decay for times t > τ(R). Having assumed statistical independence and the validity of a single function A(t) for all modes, we compute the temporal behavior of three structural quantities: the vectorial distance between the positions of the middle monomer and the center-of-mass, the end-to-end vector, and the vector connecting two nearby reptons around the middle of the polymer. Furthermore, we study the mean-squared displacement of the center-of-mass and the middle repton, and their relation with the temporal behavior of the modes.