title: Dynamics of polymer bridge formation and disruption.
abstract: In this Rapid communication, we show, with colloidal probe atomic force microscopy(AFM) measurements, that the formation and subsequent disruption of polymer bridges between two solid surfaces is characterized by slow relaxation times. This is due to the retardation of polymer dynamics near a surface. For colloidal particles that are in constant (Brownian) motion kinetic aspects are key. To understand these effects, we develop a model of polymer bridging and bridge disruption that agrees quantitatively with our experiments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 6, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Joris.Sprakel@wur.nl
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sprakel
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bartscherer
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Martien A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cohen Stuart
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Gucht