Time is length in self-similar logarithmic aging of physically crosslinked semiflexible polymer networks

Ilg, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7518-5543, Luap, C. and Kröger, M. (2025) Time is length in self-similar logarithmic aging of physically crosslinked semiflexible polymer networks. Physical Review Letters, 135. 158101. ISSN 1079-7114 doi: 10.1103/1slf-41nm

Abstract/Summary

Physical 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.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/124481
Identification Number/DOI	10.1103/1slf-41nm
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Publisher	American Physical Society
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