The
effect of functionality on the migration behaviors, structural,
and dynamical properties of star polymers in Poiseuille flow are investigated
by multiparticle collision dynamics integrated with molecular dynamics
simulations. Our studies reveal that the star polymer migrates toward
the centerline of the cylindrical tube by increasing the flow strength
and the degree of inward migration is amplified as the functionality
or the number of monomers increases. At high flow strengths, the star
polymer with low functionality undergoes a large conformational change
due to the tumbling motion, and the tumbling motion is suppressed
with increasing functionality, whereas the star polymer with high
functionality maintains a steady, stretched state via a trumpet shape.
We attribute this phenomenon to the fact that the star polymer with
high functionality perturbs the surrounding solvents more strongly
at high flow strengths than that with lower functionality, leading
to the higher additional hydrodynamic drag forces. These forces are
balanced by certain forces in each direction and stabilize the high-functionality
star polymer near the centerline due to its trumpet-shaped configuration.
Hence, the trumpet structure of star polymers amplifies the inward
migration of polymer chains in Poiseuille flow.
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