title: Viscoelasticity of reversibly crosslinked networks of semiflexible polymers.
abstract: We present a theoretical framework for the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic properties of reversibly crosslinked networks of semiflexible polymers. In contrast to affine models where network strain couples to the polymer end-to-end distance, in our model strain rather serves to locally distort the network structure. This induces bending modes in the polymer filaments, the properties of which are slaved to the surrounding network structure. Specifically, we investigate the frequency-dependent linear rheology, in particular in combination with crosslink binding-unbinding processes. We also develop schematic extensions to describe the nonlinear response during creep measurements as well as during constant strain-rate ramps.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Theoretical Physics, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plagge
authors.affiliation: Institute for Theoretical Physics, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Theoretical Physics, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heussinger