Computer Simulation of Thermally Sensitive Telechelic Star Polymers†

Abstract

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the conformational properties of thermally sensitive telechelic star polymers that carry attractive end groups. The telechelic star polymer functionality is varied between f) 1 and f) 10. As the temperature is lowered, we find a collapse from a “star burst’ ’ (sb) to a “watermelon“ (wm) conformation and study the functionality- and polymerization-number dependence of the transition temperature. We also discuss partially collapsed configurations and multiple watermelon-like structures at higher functionalities. I