Modeling Viscoelastic Properties of Triblock Copolymers: A DPD Simulation Study

Abstract

Gel systems based on self-assembled, amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers in midblock-selective solvent form stable, spatially extended networks with controllable morphology and tunable viscoelastic behavior. In this work, we systematically evaluate the mechanical properties of these gels using morphology calculations, and a nonequilibrium oscillatory shear technique based on the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. Our simulations demonstrate that low molecular weight triblock copolymers with incompatible blocks self-assemble into micelles connected with bridges and loop-like chains comprised of the solvent-selective polymer midblocks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA533578

Entities

People

  • Jan Andzelm
  • John K. Brennan
  • Mark R. Vanlandingham
  • Venkat Ganesan
  • Victor Pryamitsyn
  • Yelena R. Sliozberg

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Agreements
  • Block Copolymers
  • Copolymers
  • Dynamics
  • Elastic Properties
  • Experimental Data
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Modulus Of Elasticity
  • Molecular Weight
  • Molecules
  • Particles
  • Physics
  • Polymers
  • Shear Modulus
  • Simulations

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics