Time is length in self-similar logarithmic aging of physically crosslinked semiflexible polymer networks
Ilg, P.
It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing. To link to this item DOI: 10.1103/1slf-41nm Abstract/SummaryPhysical aging in polymers is a fundamental yet poorly understood phenomenon, as diverse macromolecular systems exhibit remarkably similar slow dynamics. Through molecular dynamics simulations of physically crosslinked networks composed of semiflexible polymers, we identify a previously unexplored class of self-similar aging. The network undergoes ultra-slow coarsening characterized by a logarithmically growing mesh size, L(t)∼ln t, which governs the spatial organization, cohesive and bending energies, and the aging dynamics of the system. This single time-dependent length scale defines an internal clock, giving rise to spatio-temporal self-similarity of both structure and dynamics – offering a perspective on aging in soft and disordered materials.
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