Abstract
Polymer brushes are being increasingly used to tailor surface physicochemistry for diverse applications such as wetting, adhesion of biological objects, implantable devices and much more. Here we perform Dissipative Particle Dynamics simulations to study the behaviour of dense polymer brushes under flow in a slit-pore channel. We discover that the system displays flow inversion at the brush interface for several disconnected ranges of the imposed flow. We associate such phenomenon to collective polymer dynamics: a wave propagating on the brush surface. The relation between the wavelength, the amplitude and the propagation speed of the flow-generated wave is consistent with the solution of the Stokes equations when an imposed traveling wave is assumed as the boundary condition (the famous Taylor’s swimmer).
Highlights
Polymer brushes are passive media whose great variety allows for a rich range of applications
Our work presents a new interpretation for the flow inversion phenomenon and establishes a link between two distinct fields: polymer brushes under flow and microswimmers
Since the polymer brush is grafted to the wall and cannot translate but it affects the fluid close to its surface, we identify VTaylor with the velocity of the solvent at the brush interface vmin
Summary
Polymer brushes are passive media whose great variety allows for a rich range of applications. E.g. the one presented, the fluid velocity inside the brush is small, consistent with a picture in which the hydrodynamic interactions are effectively screened by the presence of the polymer layer.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
