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arXiv · 0802.3970

Transient Binding and Dissipation in Semi-flexible Polymer Networks

O. Lieleg·M. M. A. E. Claessens·Y. Luan·A. R. Bausch
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Abstract

While polymer solutions lack the mechanical stability only transiently cross-linked networks can fulfill the competing requirements of structural stability and maximal energy dissipation. Here, we show that transient cross-links entail local stress relaxation and energy dissipation in an intermediate elasticity dominated frequency regime. We quantify the mechanical response of a semi-flexible polymer network by experimentally tuning the off-rate of the transient cross-linker molecule and theoretically reproduce the measured frequency response by a model that is predicated on microscopic unbinding events.

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O. Lieleg, M. M. A. E. Claessens, Y. Luan, A. R. Bausch. 2008-02-27. Transient Binding and Dissipation in Semi-flexible Polymer Networks. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.101.108101

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