Elasticity in strongly interacting soft solids: polyelectrolyte network
Soft Condensed Matter
2009-10-30 v2 Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
This paper discusses the elastic behavior of a very long crosslinked polyelectrolyte chain (Debye-H\"uckel chain), which is weakly charged. Therefore the response of the crosslinked chain (network) on an external constant force acting on the ends of the chain is considered. A selfconsistent variational computation of an effective field theory is employed. It is shown, that the modulus of the polyelectrolyte network has two parts: the first term represents the usual entropy elasticity of connected flexible chains and the second term takes into account the electrostatic interaction of the monomers. It is proportional to the squared crosslink density and the Debye - screening parameter.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9711218,
title = {Elasticity in strongly interacting soft solids: polyelectrolyte network},
author = {J. Wilder and T. A. Vilgis},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9711218},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
submitted for publication to PRE