Scale-Dependent Stiffness and Internal Tension of a Model Brush Polymer.

TitleScale-Dependent Stiffness and Internal Tension of a Model Brush Polymer.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsBerezney, John P., Amanda B. Marciel, Charles M. Schroeder, and Omar A. Saleh
JournalPhys Rev Lett
Volume119
Issue12
Pagination127801
Date Published2017 Sep 22
ISSN1079-7114
Abstract

Bottle-brush polymers exhibit closely grafted side chains that interact by steric repulsion, thereby causing stiffening of the main polymer chain. We use single-molecule elasticity measurements of model brush polymers to quantify this effect. We find that stiffening is only significant on long length scales, with the main chain retaining flexibility on short scales. From the elasticity data, we extract an estimate of the internal tension generated by side-chain repulsion; this estimate is consistent with the predictions of blob-based scaling theories.

DOI10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.127801
Alternate JournalPhys. Rev. Lett.
PubMed ID29341644