A kinetic theory and benchmark predictions for polymer-dispersed, semi-flexible macromolecular rods or platelets (Q622338)

The paper proposes a hydrodynamic theory for homogeneous, incompressible mixtures of dilute polymer chains and nano-rods or nano-platelets, which take accounts of the polymer-particle surface interactions, the semi-flexibility of the nano-rods, and the conformational dynamics of flexible polymer chains. One first presents the kinetic theory for monodomains of PNCs (polymer-particulate nano-composites), then one derives a closure model for the blend of flexible polymer chains, and lastly one solves the closure model for equilibrium and sheared dynamics of the coupled rank 2, symmetric tensors for the polymer configuration and nano-particle orientation. The theory is developed with the Rouse free energy and transport equation.