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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Influence of weak reversible cross-linkers on entangled polymer melt dynamics
Mohau J Mateyisi1, Jens-Uwe Sommer1, Kristian K Müller-Nedebock2
1Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, D-01069 Dresden, Germany.
Abstract:
In this paper, we study a system of entangled chains that bear reversible cross-links in a melt state. The cross-links are tethered uniformly on the backbone of each chain. A slip-link type model for the system is presented and solved for the relaxation modulus. The effects of entanglements and reversible cross-linkers are modelled as a discrete form of constraints that influence the motion of the primitive path. In contrast to a non-associating entangled system, the model calculations demonstrate that the elastic modulus has a much higher first plateau and a delayed terminal relaxation. These effects are attributed to the evolution of the entangled chains, as influenced by tethered reversible linkers. The model is solved for the case when the linker survival time τs is greater than the entanglement time τe, but less than the Rouse time τR.
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