Randomly hyperbranched polymers.
We describe a model for the structures of randomly hyperbranched polymers in solution, and find a logarithmic growth of radius with polymer mass. We include segmental overcrowding, which puts an upper limit on the density. The model is tested against simulations, against data on amylopectin, a major component of starch, on glycogen, and on polyglycerols. For samples of synthetic polyglycerol and glycogen, our model holds well for all the available data. The model reveals higher-level scaling structure in glycogen, related to the beta particles seen in electron microscopy.
School of Chemistry F11, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Dominik
D
Konkolewicz
Robert G
RG
Gilbert
Angus
A
Gray-Weale
D000687:Amylopectin / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D006003:Glycogen / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry
D011108:Polymers; D012996:Solutions; C043941:polyglycerol; D006003:Glycogen; D000687:Amylopectin; D005990:Glycerol