| Abstract: | We discuss theoretically the diffuse interface formed when a long (L) polymer is put into contact with shorter chains (S) of the same material (all chains being entangled). At time t shorter than the reptation time TL of the long chains, the L chains behave like a gel swollen by the S chains. The “penetration factor” ψ (i.e. the volume fraction of S near the gel surface) is controled by a balance between the osmotic pressure of the swollen L chains, and the elastic tension ψ due to swelling. If t is larger than TS (the reptation time of the short chains), ψ is of order Ne/NS (where Ne is the number of monomers between entanglement points, and NS is the degree of polymerisation of the short chains). On the other hand, if t < TS, NS must be replaced by the average number s (t) of monomers of an S chain which have entered the L region, and ψ ∼ Ne/ s (t) ∼t−1/2. The width of the mixed region e(t) increases like s 1/2(t) at TS, and like (DSt)1/2 (where DS is the reptation diffusion constant of the S chains) at t>TS. |
