Disordered Heteropolymers with Crosslinks - Phase Diagram and Conformational Transitions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the phase behavior and conformational transitions of disordered heteropolymers with crosslinks, revealing complex microphase structures and multiple phase transitions influenced by disorder and temperature.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of phase diagrams and conformational transitions in crosslinked heteropolymers, highlighting the effects of disorder and temperature on microstructure.

Findings

Freezing with few chain conformations sampled.

Segregated microphases form at low temperatures.

First order conformational transition at finite temperature.

Abstract

We study the phase behavior of random heteropolymers (RHPs) with quenched cross-links, a novel polymer class of technological and biological relevance, and show the possible occurrence of freezing with few chain conformations sampled. The sensitivity of the frozen phase microstructure to the disorder components is elucidated at positive solubility parameter values; at low T's segregated microphases form, while at a finite T, a first order conformational transition occurs, and is attributed to statistical matching of large microphases bounded by cross-links. The end of the symmetry broken regime stabilization by cross-links occurs at a higher T by a second order conformational transition. \\icrophases form, while at a finite T, a first order conformational transition occurs, and is attributed to statistical matching of large microphases bounded by cross-links. The end of the symmetry broken regime stabilization by cross-links occurs at a higher T by a second order conformational transition.