title: Molecular scale dynamics of large ring polymers.
abstract: We present neutron scattering data on the structure and dynamics of melts from polyethylene oxide rings with molecular weights up to ten times the entanglement mass of the linear counterpart. The data reveal a very compact conformation displaying a structure approaching a mass fractal, as hypothesized by recent simulation work. The dynamics is characterized by a fast Rouse relaxation of subunits (loops) and a slower dynamics displaying a lattice animal-like loop displacement. The loop size is an intrinsic property of the ring architecture and is independent of molecular weight. This is the first experimental observation of the space-time evolution of segmental motion in ring polymers illustrating the dynamic consequences of their topology that is unique among all polymeric systems of any other known architecture.
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute for Complex Systems (ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gooßen
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute for Complex Systems (ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brás
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute for Complex Systems (ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krutyeva
authors.affiliation: Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL), 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL), 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falus
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Outstation at MLZ, Lichtenbergstraße 1, 85747 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feoktystov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute for Complex Systems (ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pyckhout-Hintzen
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute for Complex Systems (ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wischnewski
authors.affiliation: Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-1) and Institute for Complex Systems (ICS-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D017709:Fractals; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008970:Molecular Weight; D033363:Neutron Diffraction; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols