Molecular Rheology: Probe Chain Method

      We systematically investigate the terminal relaxation dynamics of a small fraction of short probe chains in a high MW matrix. Different types of mixtures have been tested.

 

   Our results indicate that the motions of surrounding chains have a dominant influence on the 3.4 exponent for the zero shear viscosity. This is in sharp contrast with the conventional view attributing the non-reptationscalingsentirely to fluctuations but is in agreement with existing literature on tracer (probe) chains and self-diffusion.