Dynamics of Diblock Copolymers in Dilute Solutions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamics of diblock copolymers in dilute solutions, calculating diffusion, friction, and viscosity changes, and identifying regimes optimal for separating copolymers with different properties.

Contribution

It provides a detailed theoretical analysis of diblock copolymer dynamics using multiple scattering, including new calculations of diffusion, friction, and viscosity changes as functions of copolymer parameters.

Findings

Computed diffusion and friction coefficients for diblock copolymers.

Identified regimes that optimize separation of copolymers with different t values.

Quantified viscosity changes in dilute solutions.

Abstract

We consider the dynamics of freely translating and rotating diblock (A-B), Gaussian copolymers, in dilute solutions. Using the multiple scattering technique, we have computed the diffusion and the friction coefficients D_AB and Zeta_AB, and the change Eta_AB in the viscosity of the solution as functions of x = N_A/N and t = l_B/l_A, where N_A, N are the number of segments of the A block and of the whole copolymer, respectively, and l_A, l_B are the Kuhn lengths of the A and B blocks. Specific regimes that maximize the efficiency of separation of copolymers with distinct "t" values, have been identified.