title: Numerical study of a slip-link model for polymer melts and nanocomposites.
abstract: We present a numerical study of the slip link model introduced by Likhtman for describing the dynamics of dense polymer melts. After reviewing the technical aspects associated with the implementation of the model, we extend previous work in several directions. The dependence of the relaxation modulus with the slip link density and the slip link stiffness is reported. Then the nonlinear rheological properties of the model, for a particular set of parameters, are explored. Finally, we introduce excluded volume interactions in a mean field such as manner in order to describe inhomogeneous systems, and we apply this description to a simple nanocomposite model. With this extension, the slip link model appears as a simple and generic model of a polymer melt, that can be used as an alternative to molecular dynamics for coarse grained simulations of complex polymeric systems.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Lyon I, Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée et des Nanostructures, CNRS, UMR 5586, 43 Bvd. du 11 Nov. 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Biondo
authors.forename: Elian M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Masnada
authors.forename: Samy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merabia
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Couty
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Barrat
mesh_terms: D005615:Freezing; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers