Abstract
The dynamics of dense polymer systems consisting of long chains are governed by the fact that chains cannot pass through one another during their diffusive motion. These (temporary) topological constraints give rise to what are known as entanglements and dominate the rheological properties of long-chain polymer melts and dense solutions. They lead to the well-established reptation/tube model, which forms the basis of our understanding of many physical properties and technical processes. While entanglements are typically viewed as a problem to be addressed in most technology-related research, they can also be systematically harnessed to manipulate and structure materials—either by avoiding them or by explicitly utilizing or introducing them. This lecture will present several such examples, ranging from non-entangled to highly entangled polymer systems, as well as new entanglement-stabilized nanoporous films and topological glasses in active systems.
References
- Smrek et al. Nat. Comm. 11 (1), 26 (2020)
- Hsu et al. Adv. Sci. 10 (18), 2207472 (2023)
- Hsu, KK, Macrom. 52 (17), 6756–6772 (2019)
