Rheological properties and the mechanical signatures of phase transitions in weakly-segregated rod-coil block copolymers

<p>Block copolymers are used to construct covalent adaptable networks that employ associative exchange chemistry (vitrimers). The resulting vitrimers display markedly different nanostructural, thermal and rheological properties relative to those of their statistical copolymer-derived counterparts. This study demonstrates that prepolymer sequence is a versatile strategy to modify the properties of vitrimers.</p>

Download Full-text

Using μ2rheology to quantify rheological properties during repeated reversible phase transitions of soft matter

Lab on a Chip ◽

10.1039/c7lc00222j ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 2085-2094 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Matthew D. Wehrman ◽

Melissa J. Milstrey ◽

Seth Lindberg ◽

Kelly M. Schultz

Keyword(s):

Phase Transitions ◽

Rheological Properties ◽

Soft Matter ◽

Single Sample ◽

Fluid Exchange ◽

Reversible Phase ◽

Surrounding Fluid

A novel microfluidic design enables repeated phase transitions in a single sample by surrounding fluid exchange and microrheological characterization.

Download Full-text

Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions

Journal of Visualized Experiments ◽

10.3791/57429 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew D. Wehrman ◽

Melissa J. Milstrey ◽

Seth Lindberg ◽

Kelly M. Schultz

Keyword(s):

Phase Transitions ◽

Rheological Properties ◽

Soft Matter

Download Full-text

Synergistic toughening of polypropylene with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and elastomer-olefin block copolymers

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/c9ra01073d ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (41) ◽

pp. 23994-24002 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lucheng Qi ◽

Lei Wu ◽

Ren He ◽

Hui Cheng ◽

Boping Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Block Copolymers ◽

Rheological Properties ◽

High Molecular Weight ◽

Twin Screw Extruder ◽

Screw Extruder ◽

Twin Screw ◽

Ultra High Molecular Weight

Blends of polypropylene (PP) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with elastomer-olefin block copolymers (OBC) were prepared using an ultrasonic twin-screw extruder, and their mechanical and rheological properties were investigated.

Download Full-text

Physical Principles Underlying the Complex Biology of Intracellular Phase Transitions

Annual Review of Biophysics ◽

10.1146/annurev-biophys-121219-081629 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 107-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Jeong-Mo Choi ◽

Alex S. Holehouse ◽

Rohit V. Pappu

Keyword(s):

Phase Transitions ◽

Rheological Properties ◽

Recent Work ◽

Driving Forces ◽

Rna Molecules ◽

Associative Polymers ◽

Different Types ◽

Condensate Formation ◽

The Impact ◽

Physical Principles

Many biomolecular condensates appear to form via spontaneous or driven processes that have the hallmarks of intracellular phase transitions. This suggests that a common underlying physical framework might govern the formation of functionally and compositionally unrelated biomolecular condensates. In this review, we summarize recent work that leverages a stickers-and-spacers framework adapted from the field of associative polymers for understanding how multivalent protein and RNA molecules drive phase transitions that give rise to biomolecular condensates. We discuss how the valence of stickers impacts the driving forces for condensate formation and elaborate on how stickers can be distinguished from spacers in different contexts. We touch on the impact of sticker- and spacer-mediated interactions on the rheological properties of condensates and show how the model can be mapped to known drivers of different types of biomolecular condensates.

Download Full-text