Dynamics of semiflexible polymer solutions in the highly entangled regime

Tassieri, M. , Evans, R., Barbu-Tudoran, L., Khaname, G., Trinick, J. and Waigh, T. (2008) Dynamics of semiflexible polymer solutions in the highly entangled regime. Physical Review Letters, 101(19), (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.198301)

Abstract

We present experimental evidence that the effective medium approximation (EMA), [D. C. Morse, Phys. Rev. E 63, 031502 (2001)], provides the correct scaling law of the plateau modulus G⁰∝ρ^4/3L_p^-1/3 (with ρ the contour length per unit volume and Lp the persistence length) of semiflexible polymer solutions, in the highly entangled regime. Competing theories, including a binary collision approximation (BCA), instead predict G⁰∝ρ^7/5L_p^-1/5. We have tested both predictions using F-actin solutions which permit experimental control of Lp independently of other parameters. A combination of video particle tracking microrheology and dynamic light scattering yields independent measurements of G⁰ and L_p, respectively. Thus we can distinguish between the two proposed laws, in contrast to previous experimental studies focused on the (less discriminating) concentration dependence.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tassieri, Dr Manlio
• Authors: Tassieri, M., Evans, R., Barbu-Tudoran, L., Khaname, G., Trinick, J., and Waigh, T.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Physical Review Letters
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• ISSN (Online): 1079-7114