title: Dynamic arm exchange facilitates crystallization and jamming of starlike polymers by spontaneous fine-tuning of the number of arms.
abstract: The effect of dynamic arm exchange on the crystallization and the jamming of multiarm starlike polymers was studied using small angle x-ray scattering and rheology. Poly(ethylene oxide) end capped with a small hydrophobic chain formed spherical micelles in water. Dynamic arm exchange allowed rapid crystallization and caused a discontinuous liquid-solid transition in dense suspensions after cooling. It is shown here that this is caused by spontaneous fine-tuning of the number of arms per micelle (f). Elimination of arm exchange by in situ photo-cross-linking of the core did not influence the behavior when f was at the optimum value. However, suboptimal values of f inhibited crystallization and the liquid-solid transition.
authors: LUNAM University, Université du Maine, IMMM UMR-CNRS 6283, 72085 Le Mans cedex 9, France.
authors: Fanny
authors: F
authors: Puaud
authors: Taco
authors: T
authors: Nicolai
authors: Erwan
authors: E
authors: Nicol
authors: Lazhar
authors: L
authors: Benyahia
authors: Guillaume
authors: G
authors: Brotons