title: Structure and rheology of star polymers in confined geometries: a mesoscopic simulation study.
abstract: Mesoscopic simulations of star polymer melts adsorbed onto solid surfaces are performed using the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. A set of parameters is developed to study the low functionality star polymers under shear. The use of a new bond-angle potential between the arms of the star creates more rigid chains and discriminates between different functionalities at equilibrium, but still allows the polymers to deform appropriately under shear. The rheology of the polymer melts is studied by calculating the kinetic friction and viscosity and there is good agreement with experimental properties of these systems. The study is completed with predictive simulations of star polymer solutions in an athermal solvent.
authors.affiliation: ICCF, UMR CNRS 6296, Université Blaise Pascal, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France. florent.goujon@univ-bpclermont.fr.
authors.forename: Feiwo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: ICCF, UMR CNRS 6296, Université Blaise Pascal, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France. florent.goujon@univ-bpclermont.fr.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goujon
authors.affiliation: EPFL-CECAM, Batochime (BCH), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ana C F
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.affiliation: ICCF, UMR CNRS 6296, Université Blaise Pascal, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France. florent.goujon@univ-bpclermont.fr.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malfreyt
authors.affiliation: EPFL-CECAM, Batochime (BCH), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dominic J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Tildesley