13th Nordic Workshop on Statistical Physics: Biological, Complex and Non-Equilibrium Systems

Nanoscale friction and surfaces of polymers

14 Mar 2024, 09:45

45m

Albano 3: 4205 - SU Conference Room (40 seats) (Albano Building 3)

Speaker

Astrid de Wijn (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

Description

Nanoscale structure and mechanisms of viscoelastic deformation and plasticity in polymers are complex, and have significant impact on their mechanical properties in the bulk, but also on surfaces. We use molecular-dynamics simulations to study the relation between viscoelasticity, plasticity, and surface mechanical properties and tribology of a semi-crystalline polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

We subject a simulated PVA surface to external forces, including an Atomic Force Microscope tip, with and without a graphene sheet, and bi-axial compression. We investigate the plastic and elastic deformation during sliding, and how they relate to the structure and temperature. We also study the nanoscale mechanisms of formation of surface roughness in polymers.

Nanoscale Simulations of Wear and Viscoelasticity of a Semi-Crystalline Polymer,
R. Vacher and Astrid S. de Wijn
Tribology Letters 69, 1-12 (2021).

Nanoscale friction and wear of a polymer coated with graphene
Robin Vacher and Astrid S. de Wijn
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 63–73. doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.4.

Molecular-Dynamics Simulations of the Emergence of Surface Roughness in a Polymer under Compression
Robin Vacher and Astrid S. de Wijn
Materials 2021, 14(23), 7327.